Christmas Fire Safety |
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| Christmas, as well as being a joyous occasion, can also be a time of tragedy. Most of us increase the chance of fire occurring in our homes by introducing such items as paper decorations, Christmas trees, temporary lighting and large amounts of wrapping paper and boxes, etc. The chance of a fire occurring is often further increased by larger than normal numbers of people in the home, and the inevitable consumption of alcohol. Fire does not respect Christmas and it is a certainty that a family somewhere in Britain, if not Warwickshire itself, will have a serious fire over the festive season. | | |
These few simple precautions can dramatically reduce the risk of fire, particularly during the Christmas period.
- Always turn Christmas tree lights off and withdraw the plug at night, and when the room is going to be unoccupied for a lengthy period of time.
- Do not overload plug sockets.
- Ensure candles are in proper holders so they can't fall over, and do not leave lit candles unattended.
- As always, make sure open fires are well guarded and that wrapping paper, Christmas decorations etc., is kept well away.
- Make sure smokers put their cigarettes right out.
- Take extra care after drinking alcohol.
- Push the button, not your luck - Check your smoke alarms are working and don't be tempted to use the batteries to power any Christmas presents.
- Make your plan. Get out alive - will everyone (including guests) know where your door and window keys are kept?
- Don't be distracted when cooking - fire starts when your attention stops.
County Fire Officer, William Brown says: "Christmas is a great time of year and obviously we don't want to put a dampener on people enjoying themselves, but having served in the Fire Service for many years I have witnessed first hand the devastation fire can cause. It's always so frustrating when a few simple precautions could have prevented tragedies that should never have happened."
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 For further Fire Safety information and advice contact:
The Fire Safety Helpline on 01926 466282
National Community Fire Safety Centre Website www.firekills.gov.uk
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