Christmas is a time filled with twinkling lights, moments spent with family and friends, flowing food and drinks and beautiful Christmas trees. However, it is also one of the most dangerous times of the year for fire. Three primary factors contribute to the increase in holiday-related fires: unattended cooking, electrical appliances and Christmas trees. In 2023, 49% of fires at Christmas were due to cooking, specifically when food was left unattended on the stove.

By educating yourself on fire  safety during the Christmas period, you can significantly lower the risk of a fire occurring in your home! But it is just as important to maximise your ability to escape safety and remain safe in the event of a fire. 

Tip 1: During the Christmas season, there’s a good chance you might accidently trigger those smoke alarms, and we all know how annoying that loud noise can be. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to check the batteries every week. Smoke alarms serve as a vital warning system for fires, alerting you to evacuate and potentially saving your life. 

Tip 2: If you are celebrating the festive month with fireworks, ensure you store them safety in a safe container and location. Never go back to a lit firework and always keep a bucket of water nearby in case of an emergency. 

Tip 3: Keep candles away from your Christmas tree and other flammable items including stockings, greeting cards, and decorations. Always extinguish candles when leaving the room, home or when heading to bed. 

Tip 4: Ensure your Christmas lights carry the ‘British Safety Standard’ mark, this shows the lights meet the required safety standards. 

Tip 5: Mark sure your Christmas tree is fresh, this is essential to prevent the risk of fire. To tell if a tree is fresh, make sure the needles are vibrant green and difficult to pull off the branches. The needles of a fresh cut tree should not snap easily. Keeping the tree hydrate will maintain its moisture content, which can help prevent the spread of fire. 

Tip 6: During the festive season there is a significant increase in the use of electrical appliances, particularly light and decorations. Whilst it’s true that more can be merrier, it’s crucial to avoid overloading sockets, as this heightens the risk of household fires due to overheating. 

Tip 7: It’s easy to get distracted during the Christmas celebrations. The majority of fires at Christmas begin when someone leaves the stove or oven unattended. Ensure you do not leave a cooker unattended or take on the duties if you have been drinking alcohol. 

Tip 8: When leaving the house or going to bed, always remember to switch your Christmas lights off. If you are likely to forget this, consider buying lights that have automatic timers. 

Tip 9: Never leave children unattended in a room with an open flame, there is always a possibility that the candle could be knocked causing a fire, as well as the chance of them burning themselves. 

Tip 10: Christmas is a busy season filled with presents, extra decorations, and visitors in your home. It’s essential to ensure that your escape routes are unobstructed and that hallways and entrances remain clear, allowing for a swift exit in case of a fire. 

Tip 11: If you or your guests smoke cigarettes, it is important to put them out correctly, the smallest ember could cause a fire particularly when you are around Christmas decorations. 

Tip 12: During the festive season, take time out of your day to check in on older relatives and neighbours to make sure they are fire safe. 

For 23 years our MD Colin Chantler was a Firefighter within the London Fire Brigade with an additional 10 years as a Watch Commander with the London Fire Brigade Boats. He would like to share his words of wisdom around the subject of fire safety. 

“Majority of fires start in rooms other than bedrooms so before going to bed at night close the doors on all rooms in your house/flat which will keep fire contained within the room where the fire started for a period of time. This will delay the fire spreading and ensure that the stairs, landing and hallway remain smoke and flame free to allow for escape. Bedroom doors should also be shut which would be a place of relative safety if the esacpe route was not tenable.” – Colin Chantler 

We hope you have a safe, joyful and Merry Christmas. Remember to keep these tips at the front of your mind when enjoying yourself over the festive season.