The Christmas season sees families come together at home to spend the holiday season amongst gifts and food and merriment. Colleagues will also be decorating their offices ready for the Christmas party.

Christmas decorations can be the setting for devastating fires; sparkling lights, decorations above the fire, even Christmas trees add new elements of fire danger.

Here are a few fire safety tips to note over the Christmas Holidays:

FAIRY LIGHTS

Because we only use our fairy lights once a year make sure you check them thoroughly before hanging them. Replace any burnt out or broken bulbs, and never use lights with frayed wires.

Never hang lights with flammable materials such as tissue paper decorations or wrappings.

We know the children are excited this time of year but make sure they don’t mess around with the fairy lights, not only can this cause electric shock, but damaged bulbs can cause fire at a later time.

Overloading sockets can cause blow outs and start a fire, so make sure you only hang one set of fairy lights on your tree. After all – less is more.

If you’re hanging fairy lights outside, make sure they are specifically designed for it. Residual current devices (RCD) should be used so that if an electrical fault occurs, your lights will switch off automatically.

DECORATIONS

A lot of your favourite Christmas decorations act as perfect kindling in the event of a fire. Paper, ribbons, and garlands should be kept away from heat sources such as candles, heaters and lights so they can’t catch aflame.

CHRISTMAS TREE

If you are using a real Christmas tree, make sure it is freshly cut to cut down on flammability. If the needles are falling off, the bough isn’t springy, and there is no sticky tree sap on the trunk then choose another tree.

Keep your tree in water and well clear of fireplaces and radiators, and any other open flames.

Make sure your office fire doors are operational, as well as any fire shutters. Manchester based Sheridan Lifts provide fire door maintenance, so you don’t have to worry about anything over the Christmas period except the presents.