Sharp increase in house fires during winter months

British householders are more likely to suffer a house fire in the winter months, according Direct Line, the UK home insurer. In December 2007, the number of fire claims received by Direct Line were 61 per cent higher in comparison with an average summer month in 2008.

Direct Line monitored fire claims between September 2007 and August 2008 and found the summertime has less household fires on average than any other season. Fires in the home rose steadily in the autumn months with an average increase of 25 per cent compared to the summertime and peaked in the winter with an average 50 per cent more.

The months with the least household fires are July and August, each with only six per cent of the total annual home fire claims received by Direct Line Home Insurance.

There are several factors which contribute to the increase in house fires in the winter:

Faulty Christmas lighting and decorations are major reasons why December has more fires in the home than any other month.

The popularity and use of candles and oil burners around the home as an aesthetic design feature.

Heaters and open fires being left unattended as temperatures drop.

People smoking indoors due to colder and wetter weather.

Faulty or misused household appliances such as electric heaters, electric blankets and cookware used more commonly in the winter.

Andrew Lowe, Head of Direct Line Home Insurance, said: "These figures are a stark reminder of the risks of fire in the home. With over 45,000 accidental house fires every year causing millions of pounds worth of damage coupled with the risk of death and injury, it is essential that all householders work to minimise fire risks in the home."

Talking about fire safety in the home, Sheila Merrill, spokesperson for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said: "In recent years, smoke alarms have made a major contribution to reducing the number of people killed and injured in house fires. Sadly, however, lives are still lost, and in 2006 nearly 300 people were killed in accidental house fires across the UK. Smoking materials, cooking and heating appliances and candles were among the major causes of these fires.

"Raising awareness of the causes of house fires, plus the importance of having a working smoke alarm, will hopefully go some way towards reducing the number of families who suffer the misery of a fire in their home."

Direct Line and RoSPA offer the following safety advice to help prevent fire in the home:

Have smoke alarms fitted on each floor of your home (preferably hard-wired alarms which are connected to the mains circuit) and make sure they work - test alarms once a week and replace worn-out batteries immediately.

If you have old Christmas lights, consider buying new ones as they will meet much higher safety standards. Remember to switch off the lights when going out of the house or going to bed.

Have a fire escape plan.

Always extinguish cigarettes properly and do not smoke in bed.

Do not leave cooking unattended.

Keep matches and lighters away from children.

Do not overload plug sockets.

Candles: always place candles in a stable holder and remember to stand tea lights on a heat-resistant surface (they have been known to burn through baths and televisions). Keep candles away from other flammable materials including curtains and decorations, and never stand them under a shelf. Do not leave burning candles unattended and remember to put them out completely when leaving the house or going to bed.