Festive fire risk warning

There are many potential hazards over the festive season as people let their hair down and relax into the holidays.

Fire is a particularly important risk for homeowners to consider as historically accidental fires have, in previous years, peaked during the month of December.

Sainsbury's Finance warns that homeowners should be aware of potential fire risks, taking the appropriate precautions and generally being more fire conscious.

At this time of year the kitchen is rarely busier and figures show that over half of home fires are caused by cooking accidents. Christmas is also a popular time of year to use candles, however more than five accidental fires a day are started in the UK by candles (nearly 1,900 every year).

The Government also advises on taking safety measures with decorative lights, warning that fairy lights and Christmas tree lights that do not get used very often should be carefully checked for any damage before use.

Ben Tyte, Sainsbury's Home Insurance Manager, comments: "The festive season is great fun but people should be wary of the potential fire risks involved and costly damage that can result from fire incidents, let alone the safety risks to residents. Homeowners need to make sure they don't leave lit candles unattended, they don't overload plug sockets and crucially check they have a working fire alarm."

According to the UK Fire and Rescue Service you're twice as likely to die in a fire if you don't have a smoke alarm that works and 90 people die each year because the battery in their smoke alarm was flat or missing.