Homeowners warned of the Christmas fire hazards to look out for

Households are being warned of seven fire hazards to look out for when decorating their homes for Christmas.

With December being the busiest month of the year for house fires, experts from LightingLegends.com are urging Brits to take extra precautions with lights and decorations to ensure a fire-free Christmas.

Christmas presents a heightened fire risk in homes because of the extensive use of electrical decorations and lights, unattended candles and overloaded sockets.

In December homes will also be filled with easily flammable objects such as both real and artificial Christmas trees, tinsel or any other decorations that are made of combustible materials such as cardboard, wood or paper.

Experts are urging households to be extra mindful of fire safety over the Christmas season by taking proactive steps to minimise risks such as turning off fairy lights overnight, keeping flammable decorations away from fire sources and swapping candles for LED options.

Jon Saeed, managing director of LightingLegends.com said, “Christmas is a time for celebration but unfortunately it’s also a period when the risk of home fires increases significantly.

“Households will be filling their home with gorgeous festive lights but it’s important to handle these with care to avoid fire hazards.

“Even something as simple as forgetting to turn off the lights before going to bed or overcrowding sockets can lead to devastating consequences.

“To ensure this Christmas stays memorable for all the right reasons, it’s important to be aware of the increased fire hazards around the house and take safety measures seriously.”