Festive fire safety tips

Christmas is a time for celebrations, gatherings and decorating our homes with festive lights. But it’s also the time of year when the risk of accidents increases, so it’s important to take fire safety seriously.

The kitchen is still the area where the majority of these begin. Don’t try to cook late at night or under the influence of alcohol, if you need a snack after a night out buy something on the way home or make something cold when you’re in.

At Christmas, cooking is the biggest cause of house fires, when making Christmas dinner you need to remember these tips:

  • Never leave cooking unattended, especially when using stovetops, ovens, or grills;
  • stay attentive to your cooking and avoid  holiday distractions; and
  • keep decorations and other fire risks away from open flames or heat sources.

Fairy lights look great, but can cause hazards. Wherever you’re using fairy lights you need to remember to use them safely:

  • Always buy from a reputable supplier;
  • check they are in good working order and replace any bulbs that have blown;
  • unplug them, along with other electrical decorations, when you leave the house or go to bed;
  • bulbs can get very hot. Don’t let them touch materials that can scorch or burn easily such as paper or fabrics;
  • make sure the fuse in the plug is the correct rating; and
  • use a multi-socket adaptor with a fuse and surge protection when plugging multiple appliances into an electrical socket.

Many of us enjoy having a real Christmas tree but safety precautions have to be taken. As time goes on the tree loses moisture, which increases its flammability; a burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.

Trees need to be kept away from heat sources, shouldn’t be put up too early, and the tree stand needs to be filled regularly with water. Any decorations should be kept away from lights and should not be placed near candles or above or around the fireplace.

Candles and tea-lights help give the home a festive feel, however, do pose a significant fire risk.

During the festive period there are usually more objects in our homes that can catch fire.

  • Keep candles away from Christmas trees, wrapped presents, decorations, and other flammable objects;
  • never leave a candle unattended; and
  • consider using flameless LED candles as a safer alternative to traditional candles.