Fire Safety at Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, many homes are already decorated and feeling festive. But this time of year, can bring many fire hazards into our homes, from decorations and candles to busy kitchens.

Here are some simple things to remember to help keep you and your family safe:

🎄Real Tree? Keep it fresh to stay safe. 🎄

A dry tree can catch fire very quickly, so make sure to water it every day. Keeping it fresh is one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk of fire in your home.

🕯️Be careful with candles🕯️

Candles are a rising cause of fires. Always place candles on stable, heat-resistant surfaces and keep them well away from anything that could catch fire.

Never leave candles, incense sticks, or oil burners unattended, and always extinguish them before leaving a room or going to bed.

Keep candles out of reach of children and pets, and if you want a safer alternative, LED candles are a great option.

💡Switch off lights when not in use💡

Turn off Christmas lights when you leave the house or go to bed.

🍳Stay with your cooking🍳
Most kitchen fires happen when people are distracted or leave cooking unattended.

Try to stay focused while cooking and don’t cook if you’ve been drinking alcohol or are affected by medication or drugs.

Turn saucepan handles inwards so they don’t stick out, and keep oven gloves, tea towels, and other flammable items away from hot surfaces.

🔌Avoid overloading sockets🔌 

Electrical safety is often overlooked because there is no flame, but it’s a serious risk.

Plug only one appliance into each socket and avoid using multiple adaptors. Extension leads and adaptors have limits on how much current they can safely handle, so be careful not to overload them.

Always check appliances for signs of damage, such as frayed leads, scorch marks, or flickering lights. And when buying new electrical items, make sure they have a recognised British or EU safety mark.

🔥When was the last time you checked your smoke alarms?🔥
Smoke alarms save lives. A quick check could make all the difference in keeping your home and family safe.

If you ever have any concerns or questions, the Fire Service is always here to help. You can find advice and support at: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/fire