Can a Vape Set Off a Fire Alarm? What You Should Know Unexpected charges are piling up at hotels across the country as new smoking detection sensors raise questions about accuracy. Do Vapes Set Off Smoke Alarms? Clutch Vape Your guests aren't the only ones checking in. So are their vape pens. With over 13 million regular vapers in the U.S. alone, unauthorized vaping is a major operational risk for hotels.