A festive fire safety message
Sinead Sweeney
Chief Fire Officer,
Cavan County Fire Service
Christmas is a magical time when we get to pause, reflect, and spend time with our loved ones, but for our firefighters, it can also be a busy time, as we see increase in incidents such as chimney fires, house fires, and road traffic collisions.
Inclement weather, increased alcohol consumption, and the proliferation of candles, electric lights, and Christmas trees in the home, are all hazards that pose a significant risk to our safety at this time of year.
None of this is to say we shouldn’t enjoy ourselves the festivities, but taking some simple, common-sense precautions can help ensure you have a peaceful, stress-free holiday period.
• Never leave candles unattended, or near anything flammable such as curtains. Consider LED candles, a much safer alternative, and they last longer!
• Make sure your chimney has been cleaned before you light an open fire in your home. Chimney fires can quickly spread into your roof and endanger your home.
• Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide alarm and a working smoke alarm on every floor. Test them regularly – make ‘Test It Tuesday’ a part of your weekly routine.
• Buy your Christmas lights from a reputable retailer. These lights are more likely to meet electrical safety standards, compared to ‘cheap and cheerful’ lights bought online. Avoid using old sets that may have frayed cords, damaged plugs, missing bulbs, and other faults that can cause fires. Newer LED lights are the safest option.
• Dried out ‘real’ Christmas trees are notoriously flammable. Look for fresher trees with green needles that don’t fall out easily and keep the tree stand filled with water. An artificial tree labelled as fire-resistant is also a safer option.
• Alcohol consumption in the home increases during the festive period. Avoid the temptation to cook up a storm after a few hot ports – alcohol and frying pans are a lethal combination.
• If smoking cigarettes, do it outside. Discarded cigarettes are a significant cause of domestic house fires – particularly when alcohol is involved.
• Avoid using generic chargers for tablets and ph ones and always charge devices during the day on a hard surface, never under a pillow or duvet.
• With family visiting, there will likely be many devices on the go. Avoid overloading sockets, and resist the temptation to connect multiple extension leads, as they can overheat.
• If you’ve seen videos of people deep frying frozen turkeys, you’ll know this is a bad idea, and should never be attempted.
• Close doors at night. In the event of a fire, a closed door will give your family more time to safely escape.
• Practice your escape route with your family.
* In the event of fire, get out, stay out, and get the fire brigade out by calling 112 or 999.
In addition to fire incidents, there is generally an increase in the number road traffic collisions in the winter months. Please slow down, drive according to the conditions, be aware of other road users and never, ever drink and drive. Pedestrians and cyclists should also ensure they are visible, by wearing hi-vis clothing.
We in the fire service enjoy Christmas as much as anyone, and we don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun. By taking a practical, common-sense approach to the Christmas celebrations, we can all provide a safe and secure environment for our loved ones to enjoy this magical time of year.
In the event of an emergency, call 112 or 999 and be assured that our dedicated firefighters in ten stations across the county will be on-call 24 hours a day ready to assist their communities.
On behalf of all the management and staff of Cavan County Fire Service, I wish you and yours a very Happy Christmas.