UP IN SMOKE

Shocking moment vape pen EXPLODES in a cloud of black smoke inside shopper’s handbag

The shopper initially thought that someone dropped something in her bag to cause the explosion

THIS is the shocking moment a dodgy vape pen exploded in a woman’s handbag while she was out shopping.

Mara McInerney was left horrified when the lithium battery in her handbag blew up right in front of her face as she shopped at the Freehold Raceway Mall in New Jersey, US on Sunday.

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Mara McInerney was shopping when her vape pen exploded in her handbag

She told : “I was in a mall, I heard a bang, next thing I know there’s smoke in my face.

“I couldn’t imagine what caused the fire in my purse.

“I thought maybe someone dropped something into my bag. It took me a minute to register. That’s why I dumped everything out. What happened?”

CCTV footage shows Mara standing on the counter of Sunglass Hut speaking to the shop assistant, when plumes of black smoke begin emerging from her bag.

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CCTV shows her at a Sunglass Hut store in a New Jersey shopping centre with her bag on the counter

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The two women quickly rush to safety before the shopper grabs her bag and dumps it on the ground

The cashier runs away to safety while a startled Mara steps back before grabbing her bag and throwing it on the floor.

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Describing the dramatic scene, Mara said: “The bag was in flames. When you saw me moving my hands my fingertips were burned.

“I was trying to put out the flames because everyone ran out of the store. I really don’t blame them.”

According to , the battery damaged all the items in her purse.

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Moments later plumes of black smoke begin to billow out of her bag on the counter

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The lithium battery damaged all the items in her bag

Now Mara, who is a mum-of-one, wants to raise awareness to other vape users to warn them that it could happen to them.

She added: “Just knowing that I have my child and my bag in the back seat; my daughter is in the car seat next to it. It’s scary and it could happen to anyone.”


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