The 12 days of Christmas

Celebrating Christmas means taking time to decorate your tree and home with lights. However, not taking care to check bulbs and fuses, using old lights which need a safety check and placing hot lights near to flammable materials can be a recipe for disaster.

In 2009 a family in Monmouth Road, Grangetown, Middlesbrough, lost their presents and there was 100% fire damage to their living room after their Christmas lights caught fire.

Also in December 2009 at Northgate in the Headland Hartlepool, lights outside a family home began sparking and smoking causing damage to their home and garden.

Christmas Light Safety tips

• Only use Christmas lights that conform to British Standards
• Don’t use indoor lights outdoors
• Don’t overload sockets

At Christmas it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the event and forget the small jobs around the home which, if left unattended, can lead to risk and danger.

Last Christmas three families in Teesside found this out when minor faults in their house appliances led to an unwelcome visit from the Brigade.

Faulty unchecked electrics were to blame when a washer and tumble drier caught fire in Passfield Crescent, Southbank while an electrical short circuit in a boiler cupboard meant a lucky escape for a couple from Merlin Close Guisborough. Broken glass on the front of a living room fire in Ragworth Place, Stockton, led to a living room fire and an unhappy time for the owners as they were forced to clean up the mess before Christmas.

Home Safety Top Tips

• Arrange for a home fire safety visit – find out more here
• Have a safe night routine – switch off electrical appliances and close all doors
• Find out more about home safety here

Most of us like to celebrate Christmas with family and friends and often that means alcohol is involved.

When taken in moderation we all know alcohol is safe however when we drink to excess our judgement and decision making becomes impaired. Many fires we attend over the Christmas period are alcohol related. That can be anything from leaving a chip pan unattended or falling asleep after too much to drink and risking fire through household appliances being left on.

On this 3^rd day of Christmas our message is simple-drink sensibly and stay safe.

Alcohol Safety tips

• Don’t drink and drive - Learn and Live
• Don’t drink and fry/cook
• Don’t ruin a good night; drink sensibly

Candles can be a great way to make a room festive and create some atmosphere but people forget that these naked flames are a key factor in many of the house fires we attend each year.

When not handled carefully, when left near to flammable materials or objects, then candles can be a real danger to families. Remember to always keep them in a holder and away from other flammable things. Don’t let children or animals near them and remember to make sure they are always extinguished before you go out or go to bed.

Last year two families weren’t so lucky and after accidentally leaving a candle burning in a house in Haddon Street, Middlesbrough, caused severe damage to their bathroom. The second family had a lucky escape in Station Lane, Seaton Carew, when a stray candle left in an attic ignited a pile of clothes prompting an evacuation of the home.

Candle Safety tips

• Never place candles near your Christmas tree or furnishings
• Never leave candles unattended
• Extinguish them before you go to bed

Overloading sockets for Christmas lights and decorations can be a dangerous act at this time of year.

One family had to move out of their home last Christmas as their house couldn’t be lived in when smoke damage and fire ruined the Christmas of three children and their parents. The cause was a faulty and overloaded electrical socket at their home on Stockton Road, Hartlepool.

Investing in a secure and safe adapter is a way of making sure your Christmas isn’t also ruined.

Electrical safety tips

• Never overload sockets
• Don’t go to bed and leave electrical appliances on
• Check adaptors, electrical blankets, old portable heaters, Christmas tree lights

Leaving things unattended on cookers and stoves at this busy time of the year often means the Brigade end up attending homes to mop up the mess after an avoidable kitchen blaze.

Last year we were called to Bishopton Lane in Stockton after cooking fat left on a hob caused 100% fire damage to the family’s kitchen. Needless to say, their meal and day was ruined.

Always be vigilant when cooking especially when distracted by other events and always make sure you never leave hot items unattended in the kitchen.

Cooking safety tips

• Never leave pans unattended
• Get rid of your old chip pan
• Clean your oven, hob and grill regularly

Fuel poverty can be an important factor leading to increased fire risk at home during the Christmas period.

With colder weather and higher fuel bills some people are forced to take extreme measures to keep themselves warm.

During the coldest months of the year, older people and other at risk groups are vulnerable to fire because of worries over the effects of rising fuel bills.

Financial worries may lead to the use of cheaper and less safe forms of heating. In some cases they can be even at risk of hypothermia, from turning their heating off or down to unsafe levels in order to save money. In extreme cases their power might be unnecessarily cut off for failing to deal with arrears on their bills.

Keeping warm safely

If the answer is yes to any of the following…..

• Is the mains power to the property off for any reason?
• Are candles being used for lighting?
• Are dangerous portable heaters being used?

Call us now on 01429 874063

Unattended and forgotten cigarettes cause dozens of house fires each year. And at Christmas the misery is doubly compounded as some families are forced to leave their homes thanks to smoke and fire damage.

It’s not just unattended cigarettes. A couple in High Street, Skinningrove saw substantial damage to their home last December when a discarded cigarette caused a blaze in their bedroom.

Cigarette safety and acting responsibly in disposing of them, dramatically reduces the risk of fire in your home. The ultimate safety is, of course, to quit smoking which the NHS can help with.

Cigarette safety

• Never smoke in bed
• Discard smoking materials properly
• Be careful when smoking after drinking alcohol or when sleepy
• Make it your new year resolution to quit

Adverse weather conditions, poor visibility thanks to the dark nights and more stress and hurry are just some of the factors which make the festive period a time where people are susceptible to car crashes and accidents. The temptation to have one too many and drive home is a particular risk this time of year.

Many fire crews are called upon to rescue people from their cars each December after accidents due to these factors resulted in a crash. Sometimes the victims are lucky and can walk away from the wreckage and sometimes not. That’s why it is essential to take extra care on the roads this Christmas and keep you and your friends and family safe.

Road safety tips

• Don’t drink and drive - Learn and Live
• Take care when driving in bad weather and darkness - view information here

Just as cigarettes pose a big risk this time of year so too do matches, lighters and smoking materials. Keeping them secure and safe and away from children is one key way of reducing risk but also making sure that they are not left burning is another way of making sure your Christmas is as safe as possible.

Match and lighter safety

• Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children
• Worried about child firesetting? Call us for advice

Christmas is a time for families and remembering to follow our advice around the areas we’ve identified this festive period will help you keep them safe and make sure that your holiday is enjoyable as possible.

Every year we’re called out to lots of domestic incidents as people prepare for Christmas. Last year an eager home decorator in Rochester Road, Stockton, when taking the handle off a door to decorate meant he locked his two year old inside the living room.

Whatever your plans for Christmas please make sure you make them with safety in mind.

Keep family and visitors safe

• Check on relatives and neighbours – do they need help from our warmth campaign?
• Make sure visitors know what to do in an emergency
• Make an escape plan
• In the event of a fire: Get out; Stay out; Call the fire brigade

Parties and celebrations outside can mean fireworks and it’s important that if you’re going to brave the elements and have a fireworks party that you follow the packaging instructions, don’t leave them with children, follow the firework code and make sure they’re fully extinguished afterwards.

Don’t let some carelessness or a stray firework ruin your festive season.

Firework safety

• If you are planning to celebrate with fireworks, store them in a metal box with a lid on
• Read the instructions
• Never go back to a lit firework
• Keep a bucket of water nearby
• more on the firework code