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Follow safety tips and don’t let fire ruin your Christmas

Published
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) and Trading Standards are encouraging residents to take extra care over the festive season to ensure that families and loved ones are protected from fire.

People are being urged to keep fire safety at the top of their Christmas list as part of the Fire Kills campaign.

Some key tips to follow include:

·    Ensure you have working smoke alarms installed on all levels of your home

·    Never leave cooking unattended and always turn off kitchen appliances when you have finished

·    Never leave burning candles unattended

·    Put your cigarette out, right out - make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished and take care when under the influence of alcohol or tired. 

·    Never use heaters to dry clothes

·    Don’t overload sockets - use only one plug per socket

·    Switch off fairy lights and unplug them before you go to bed or leave the house. Check your Christmas tree lights conform to the British Standard (BS EN 60598) and are in good working order before use

·    Buy the right charger for any electrical appliance, including your mobile – cheap chargers may not conform to safety standards and cause serious harm to you and your families

·    Make sure that everyone in your home knows what to do in a fire – in the event of fire you should get out, stay out and call 999

Mark Preece, Chief Fire Officer at Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Christmas can be the time for relaxing, spending time with family and friends and maybe even overindulging. But fairy lights, candles and decorations mean it is also a time to take extra care to keep our loved ones safe from fire.

“To ensure you have the merriest of Christmases, keep fire safety at the top of your list. Ensure you place candles in suitable holders and away from Christmas cards, decorations, or anything else that may catch alight. Never leave cooking unattended and, of course, test your smoke alarms and those of elderly or vulnerable relatives or neighbours.”

Karen Smith, Head of Trading Standards at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “With the pressure of buying Christmas presents, it can be tempting to save money buying a cheaper version of the ‘must have’ gift. Cheap copies of popular electrical toys and gifts are often made without regard to safety standards carrying a risk of injury or fire. The Office for Product safety and Standards has the following advice: Consumer product safety: advice for staying safe - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)”

Cllr Dave Norman, cabinet member with responsibility for the fire and rescue service and trading standards, said: “We want people to enjoy a wonderful Christmas with their families but it’s important to be aware of the possible risks which may cause fires.

“The colder weather brings its own dangers too, so please take care when using portable heaters or open fires to keep warm. Never use heaters to dry clothes and keep them well away from decorations, curtains, clothing and furniture.”

For advice specific to you and your home visit www.ohfsc.co.uk to complete your own home fire safety check or you can visit GlosFire (gloucestershire.gov.uk) for more safety information.