Christmas safety

The festive season brings a number of extra fire risks to the community and your family.

Here are some precautions you should take to keep your family and friends safe during the Christmas period.

Check Christmas lights carefully for frayed wires, bare spots in insulation, broken or cracked sockets and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up;
Do not overload electrical circuits or power boards; make sure your home or power boards are fitted with an approved overload protection device (RCD);
If bulbs blow in Christmas decorations replace them quickly;
Do not leave Christmas lights on when you go out or when you go to sleep;
Do not let bulbs touch anything that can burn easily, like paper or other decorations;
Use only non-flammable or flame retardant artificial trees and decorations;
Dispose of live trees quickly after the Christmas period before they dry out and
become a fire hazard. Also dispose of wrapping paper quickly and safely;
Do not leave candles unattended when they are lit;
Do not place candles near trees, decorations, presents or other flammable objects;
Only place candles in stable holders on a heat resistant surface;
Make sure candles are completely out, not smouldering;
Do not use party poppers, silly string or other party streamers where there are naked flames from candles etc;
Empty all ashtrays (first making sure the contents are extinguished) before leaving a room;
Please make sure all guests know your home fire safety plan when they are staying in your home, including exits, where keys for deadlocks are kept and the location of fire extinguishers and fire blankets.