Fire safety during the festive period

Whether you are a homeowner, landlord or tenant, it is important to have access to advice and information about what to do if there is a fire.

Handy information on fire safety at home can be found on the website and fire safety advice is also available on the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service website.

We have put together the information below about fire safety at home during the festive period. It is designed to help everyone have a safe and Merry Christmas.

Christmas tree fires

Christmas trees are one of the biggest causes of house fires at Christmas. To avoid the risk of a Christmas tree fire, keep your tree in an open area away from any heat sources and be extra careful if lighting candles close by. 

When it comes to choosing a tree, go for a fresh tree with a healthy green appearance. Avoid picking a tree with dry and browning needles. Artificial trees are quite realistic and have fire retardant properties and can be used year after year, discard any older decorations that may not have fire retardant qualities.

Christmas light fires

If you’re hanging lights outside, make sure they’re suitable for outdoor use and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Avoid using extension cables intended for indoor use and make sure all leads and connections are kept well above ground. Do not trail leads through puddles, snow, or across paths where they’re likely to get trodden on. 

Inside the house, make sure all lights are marked with a British safety standard and are free from damage. Lights are stored in for 11 months and can easily become worn, so it’s important to check them over before plugging them in, use LED lights to reduce the risk further.

Overloading plug sockets can also pose a very real fire risk to your home, so don’t plug too many things in at once. 

And finally, avoid leaving Christmas lights switched on around the clock. According to research by Zurich UK, 3 million households leave Christmas tree lights on while out or asleep at night. 

Christmas candle fires

If you’re using candles at Christmas, make sure you take extra care to use them safely. Blow out candles before leaving the house or going to bed and make sure you only light them in open, visible spaces. If you have children around, it might be best to leave the candles up high so small hands can’t grab them.

Whether you hang your Christmas cards on the wall or display them on a shelf, make sure they’re kept well away from candles, fireplaces and other objects that could start a fire. It only takes one card falling down in a breeze to set a whole house alight.

If in doubt, avoid using candles altogether. LED, flameless candles offer a much safer alternative to real candles and will keep flickering for much longer than the real version too!

Christmas dinner

Kitchen appliances account for more than half of house fires in the UK. Even if you’re always careful when cooking, it’s easy to get distracted during festive celebrations, especially if you’re hosting guests in your home. However, busy your house gets, never leave the cooking unattended, and avoid taking charge of the cooking while under the influence of alcohol. Make sure the oven is switched off when you leave the kitchen.

Christmas charging

Causes of battery fires include:

• Rapid overheating (a process called thermal runaway) leading to fire or explosion
• Overcharging – if you charge too long or with too much voltage, it can cause overheating and fires
• Damaged batteries - may release flammable electrolytes, increasing the risk of fire. 
• Exposure to high temperatures – high temperatures speed up battery ageing and increase the chance of battery failure. 

Never leave chargers for tech, toys and tools on overnight or when not in the home. Consider a timed plug-in socket for charging. These automatically switch off at the pre-set time of your choice.

Test your smoke alarms

Before the Christmas season begins, make sure your smoke alarms are working properly. Doing so could save lives should anything happen during the holidays. Never take your smoke alarms down or remove the batteries to use in toys, decorations or other gadgets around the home – your life is much more important.

For more Christmas fire safety tips, visit the Government website.