Celebrate Safely

Celebrations are an excuse to have fun, not an excuse for a fire!

Fire safety is the last thing on your mind when you’re celebrating. But think about it – lots of guests, extra decorations, people smoking – all the everyday fire risks get bigger. Don’t let fire safety stop you enjoying yourself – know the risks and plan ahead.

Decorative Lights

Decorative lights don’t get used every day so give them a bit of extra thought.

• Check the maximum amps that can be handled by the fuse in the plug. Most decorative lights should be fitted with a 3amp fuse, so don’t try and wire extra sets into the same plug!
• If bulbs blow, replace them. If bulbs continue to blow, replace the lights.
• Turn decorative lights off at night and when you go out.
• Don’t let bulbs touch anything that can burn easily like paper, fabrics and tinsel

Candles

Treat candles as you would any other flame

• Don’t leave them unattended
• Put them out completely at night
• Don’t let them fall over, use a candlestick holder
• Always place candles on heat resistant surfaces, even tea lights can melt plastic surfaces like TV tops
• Keep them away from anything that can catch fire, like curtains, decorations and artificial Christmas trees.

 Fireworks and Decorations

Given half a chance, paper decorations will burn

• Use common sense and keep decorations and greeting cards away from heaters, lights, the fireplace and candles
• Don’t fool with fireworks, they’re explosives not toys
• Only buy fireworks marked with British Safety Standards BS7114 and always read the instructions.

Having a party

Do yourself and your visitors a favour – don’t leave fire safety to the morning after!

• Let your guests know where to find window and door keys
• Look out for elderly people, children and anyone with problems getting about.
• Make sure exits are clear
• If people are smoking, put out extra ashtrays and make sure all cigarettes are put out properly – cigarettes can burn at over 700C, they’re hotter than you think!

Real Life – Unhappy Christmas

On Christmas Eve 2001, the Lloyd family popped next door for a Christmas Drink.

‘I didn’t give the fairy lights a second thought’ says Pauline Lloyd ‘only to think how nice they looked.’

It’s an oversight Pauline wished she could forget.

The fairy lights set fire to the curtains. Luckily a neighbour spotted the flames and raised the alarm.

‘We had a miserable start to the New Year’, says Pauline. ‘The front room was ruined. I’m so careful now – I never leave any lights on when I go out. It’s not worth the risk’.