Christmas trees, festive decorations, and candles can be beautiful additions to a home, but if they’re not used safely, they can quickly turn into destructive fire hazards.

It’s surprising just how quickly a Christmas tree can set alight and spread flames across a room. With that in mind, here are a few tips to reduce the risk of fire this Christmas.

Decorations and heat sources

It’s common knowledge that candles should never be left unattended, but many people don’t consider the dangers of placing candles near decorations and cards. If a decoration or greetings card was to fall from a window and drop onto the open flame, it could set alight immediately.

It’s also wise to be cautious of decorations placed near sources of heat such as radiators, electric heaters or fireplaces.

Away with the fairies

As easy as it can be to fall asleep on the sofa with fairy lights glistening on the tree nearby, all Christmas lights must be unplugged at night.

Stay safe in the kitchen

Avoid cooking after drinking alcohol. The risk of accidents in the kitchen is much greater when people have been drinking.

Don’t leave things cooking in the kitchen unattended. It’s easy to forget that you have a pan on the stove when you’re enthralled in your favourite Christmas film or you’ve fallen asleep after a few too many mince pies.

Don’t overload sockets

If you have multiple sets of fairy lights and other Christmas decorations that need to be plugged in, it can be tempting to fill an entire extension lead. But leads can easily become overloaded and increase the risk of fire in the process. Take a look at this handy overload calculator to find out if you’re plugging too many appliances into the same socket.

A fire risk assessment can be a great way to ensure you commercial property abides by fire safety legislation – all year round. Just contact Total Fire Services for more information.