Overview
- Dry trees and wreaths can ignite within seconds, and fire services report a clear seasonal rise in household fires during the holidays, with some coverage citing about a 50% increase.
- In Upper Austria, candles cause around 100 fires each year, and about one in ten fire fatalities in Austria is linked to candle-related incidents.
- TÜV Rheinland and tenant advocates warn that cheap or aging light strings and DIY electrical kits can overheat or deliver fatal electric shocks.
- Consumers are urged to favor LEDs and to check for GS, VDE or TÜV marks, noting that the CE logo is only a manufacturer’s declaration rather than a safety guarantee.
- Guidance includes using IP44-rated products outdoors, never leaving candles or clustered tealights unattended, and keeping an extinguisher, water or a fire blanket plus working smoke detectors at hand.