Overview
- The Fire Service warns that real trees dry quickly and can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases, urging regular watering, distance from heat sources, and prompt removal once they dry.
- Official guidance for fairy lights includes checking correct fuses, replacing blown bulbs, switching lights off when out or asleep, keeping bulbs off flammable materials, and avoiding overloaded sockets.
- MoneySupermarket cautions against overloading sockets or daisy‑chaining extension leads, warning that insurers may refuse payouts for fires caused by unsafe wiring.
- Lighting experts advise replacing damaged or low‑quality lights, switching them off overnight, and using outdoor‑rated, waterproof options with at least IP65 for exterior displays.
- Officials stress safe candle use with heat‑resistant holders, clear space from curtains or shelves, supervision around children and pets, and extinguishing before leaving a room or going to sleep.