Northamptonshire fire crews share their top tips on Christmas safety

They've given their advice, from Christmas lights to recharging batteries

Author: Dan MasonPublished 24th Dec 2023

We're hearing from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue who are advising us about safety with Christmas decorations.

Firefighters are reminding us to only use indoor leads and lights inside the house.

Darren Carson is a Fire Prevention Team Leader in Northamptonshire:

"We always recommend you check the conditions of the lights, especially paying attention to the plug and wire; usually they've been packed away for a year so it's always good to check.

"We also recommend you don't overload any electrical sockets."

The county's fire service say they've seen an increased number of incidents where rechargeable batteries have overheated and caught fire.

This can include batteries on e-bikes.

"We're finding items that contain rechargeable batteries are becoming more common, so our top tips would be to never leave batteries charging unattended or charging them overnight," Mr Carson said.

"We also highly recommend you buy from reputable dealers and always use the manufacturer's charger."

Firefighters are also issuing a range of tips, with particular emphasis on the kitchen.

Tina Collett's a Fire Prevention Team Leader in Northamptonshire:

"When you're cooking over the festive period, it's easy to leave your cooking unattended and be distracted.

"Most fires start in the kitchen, so we need to make sure we're always aware of what's going on and avoid cooking when under the influence of alcohol."

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