Man loses Teeth and Tongue after blast from Electronic Cigarette

A man trying to quit smoking was puffing an electronic cigarette when a faulty battery caused it to explode in his mouth, severely injuring him, fire officials said.
The shocking blast took out some of the man’s front teeth and a chunk of his tongue and severely burning his face, fire officials said.“The best analogy is like it was trying to hold a bottle rocket in your mouth when it went off,” said Joseph Parker, division chief for the North Bay Fire Department. “The battery flew out of the tube and set the closet on fire.”

Fire Chief Joseph Miller said the victim contacted the department  to thank firefighters and told them he was recovering at a hospital in Mobile, Ala., and anticipated being released later in the day.
Holloway was in his office at home when the device exploded, leaving behind burned carpet, chair cushions, pictures and office equipment. A scorched battery case found on a piece of melted carpet appears to be one for a cigar-sized device, the report said.

Those in the house with him rushed to his aid in the smoke-filled room and tried to put the fire out with salt, the report said. Holloway and his family members didn’t immediately answer The Associated Press’ requests for interviews. But Holloway has asked for the burned case back. Parker said it could be used as evidence in any litigation, although Holloway did not indicate why he wanted it returned, Parker said. Thomas Kiklas, co-founder of the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association, said the industry knows of no problems with the cigarettes or batteries exploding