Have a happy and safe Christmas with advice from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service

Christmas is coming and with the festive season about to get into full swing Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has issued advice on how to enjoy it in safety.

With Christmas trees, lights, charging electrical items, candles, and cooking all in the mix, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself, your family, and your home.

Christmas trees

• Real trees - a dry tree is highly flammable so keep it watered daily, and ensure the base of the tree is always filled with water
• Artificial trees - look for a label that confirms the tree is flame retardant and complies with fire safety standards
• Positioning - keep your tree away from heat sources like radiators, fireplaces, and candles. Ensure it’s a safe distance from exits so everyone can evacuate quickly in case of an emergency.

Christmas lights

• Check wiring, plugs, and bulbs for damage or wear. Discard any faulty lights.
• Only use lights that have the British Standard mark or CE marking
• Don’t overload - always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for the number of lights that can be safely used on a single socket
• Always turn off Christmas lights when you leave the house or go to bed. Consider using a timer to automatically switch off lights after a certain time.

Candle safety

• Always place candles away from flammable material such as decorations, wrapping paper, curtains, and any other flammable materials
• Never leave burning candles unattended, and always keep them out of reach of children and pets
• Always make sure candles are fully extinguished before you go to sleep or leave the room
• Place candles in stable holders or lanterns to catch wax drips and prevent the candle from tipping over.

Cooking and kitchen safety

• Don’t leave cooking unattended - keep a close eye on all appliances. If you need to leave the room, turn off the stove or oven
• Keep tea towels, paper towels, and oven mitts away from heat sources like the stove, grill, and oven

Battery safety

• Don’t charge e-bikes and e-scooters in bedrooms or where escape routes can be blocked – for example, hallways.
• Don’t leave your battery charging unattended when you are out or while you are asleep.
• Don’t cover chargers or battery packs when charging
• Don’t charge or store batteries in direct sunlight or in hot locations (above 45⁰C)
• Don’t charge batteries close to combustible materials or hazardous substances.
• Always unplug your charger when you have finished charging
• If your battery can be removed from your e-bike or e-scooter and charged separately, it should be charged on a hard flat surface where heat can disperse and in area with good ventilation.

Smoke alarms

You should have smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them regularly. They should be on the ceiling, preferably in the middle of the room. Don’t put them on walls, as they won’t work as well.

Group Manager Lee Wilkins, SFRS head of Prevention, Community Engagement and Partnership Working, said: “We want everyone to enjoy themselves over the festive season.

“By following these simple safety measures you can make sure that you and your loved ones will have a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

Councillor Steve Wiles, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “I hope everyone has a happy Christmas and New Year but also a safe one.

“Please do follow the advice from the fire service as it is there to help everyone enjoy the festive period in safety.”