Emergency services received eight call-outs to fires related to e-cigarettes in 2012, according to data from 43 of the 49 fire authorities.

That number rose to over 40 in 2013, and there were more than 60 in 2014.

In one incident, a charging battery pack appeared to be faulty, causing a fire in a care home, and in another an e-cigarette exploded, igniting health-related oxygen equipment.

Fire chiefs say many blazes are caused by the wrong chargers being used. If a charger that is not compatible to the device is used, too much current goes into the batteries, meaning they can overheat and eventually explode.

The fire service has a number of safety tips for e-cigarette users

1. Only use the charger supplied with your e-cigarette kit – Other chargers may cause problems with incompatible battery types.
2. Do not ‘mix and match’ components between kits.
3. Do not over tighten the batter on to the charger – Screw the battery in gently after plugging in the charger first.
4. Do not leave the kit unattended while charging.
5. Clean the battery’s ‘centre pin’ and charger contact at least once a week.
6. Once fully charged, removed the battery from the charger.