Christmas is, as the famous song says, the most wonderful time of the year. So one thing none of us wants is to wake up on Christmas morning with a tree and presents burnt down in a fire. It is important all year-round to be fire safe at home, but especially so during the festive season. Continue reading our helpful guide for some vital Christmas fire safety tips to keep you safe.
Fire safety tips for Christmas
At Christmas, our houses are full to the brim with decorations and lights. They really add to the festive atmosphere and help to build the excitement throughout December.
However, some of the materials and decorations that are used within households all over the UK can be dangerous. Here are some tips from Gov.uk on how to keep your family and home safe from fire this Christmas:
- Check Christmas lights carry the British Safety Standard sign.
- Keep candles away from your Christmas tree or any materials that could ignite easily.
- Test all smoke alarms in your home monthly.
- Avoid leaving an oven unattended while cooking Christmas dinner.
- Avoid cooking while under the influence of alcohol.
- Don’t attach decorations to lights or heaters.
- Don’t overload electrical sockets with Christmas tree lights and decorations.
- Unplug any electricals when you’re not around.
Christmas fire safety with electricals
If not used safely, electricals are a major cause of fires at Christmas. This could be faulty Christmas tree lights, overloaded plugs or unsafe decorations.
One thing you should be careful of is leaving lights and decorations switched on while you are away from your home. It may seem tempting to leave Christmas lights flashing on the exterior of your home to greet you on your return, but there is a risk of a spark from these lights that can potentially ignite a fire.
It is unwise to leave electronics switched on while you are out of the house, or even tucked up in bed. Aside from causing a potential safety issue, you would run up your electricity bill. Most people make use of surge protectors and extension leads to cater for the number of additional plugs and electrical sources during the festive season. You should switch them off at the source when not in use.
Additionally, you should ensure that any Christmas electric decorations carry the British Safety Standard sign on their packaging.
If you are unfortunate enough to have an electrical fire at home this Christmas, make sure you are prepared by reading our guide on electrical fires.
Unattended food
Christmas is not just about presents and decorations, it is also about enjoying delicious food with loved ones. That involves cooking meat, vegetables and much more all day long in the kitchen. With family around at your house, it can be tempting to walk away from the kitchen and leave food cooking unattended.
Try not to do this as a fire could break out at a moment’s notice and no one would be in the room to tackle it early enough. This could include your food in the oven burning or oil catching fire in a pan. If not tackled quickly, it can spread rapidly.
Also, as tempting as it can be to drink alcohol throughout the day, try to limit the amount you drink until after you have finished cooking. Rising alcohol levels in your system can limit your focus and lead to an accident.
Read our guide on fire extinguishers to find out the best way to tackle specific classification of fires in the kitchen.
Christmas tree fire safety
Whether you choose an artificial Christmas tree or a real one, there are things you can do to prevent a fire from igniting your tree. Here are some tips to be aware of to prevent your tree from catching fire:
- Place it away from heat sources – A real or artificial tree can be a major source of ignition if placed next to a source of heat, such as an open fire or a candle. Keep your tree well away from either of these.
- Water it regularly – If you have a real Christmas tree, you should water it regularly in order to prolong its life and prevent it from drying out. A dry tree becomes even more of a risk of fire. A six-foot tree could require up to a gallon of water every other day.
- Ensure it’s a fresh tree – Similar to above, make sure your tree is a fresh one as an aged tree will dry out quicker.
- Switch off lights – Turn off your Christmas lights at night and while you are away from the house. Even if they are registered safe by British Safety Standards, there is still a potential risk of ignition.
Fire safety services with NW Fire Solutions
If you would like to ensure your property is safe ahead of the Christmas season, contact NW Fire Solutions for a wide range of professional fire safety services. If you are a landlord, we can provide expert rental property inspections to check everything is above board and safe for your tenants.
Additionally, if you require a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) fire risk assessment, NW Fire Solutions can provide one. We can ensure that all fire escape routes, smoke detectors, fire alarms and other fire safety measures are up to scratch and clear your building for safe occupancy at Christmas.