19/12/2025
By now most people probably have Christmas Lights up which look amazing but can be a fire safety risk 🎄🔥
Older fairy lights with 240v can become dangerous if they are damaged, as when the bulbs blow they can cause the other bulbs to become very hot, it is really important to replace bulbs quickly with the power off, to reduce the risk of electrocution ⚡
Hot lights and real trees are a fire risk as the tree dries out so these lights are not recommended (make sure to water your real tree daily) 💦
A much safer option is low voltage LED lights as these remain cool to touch and the bulbs are more durable ⚡
LED lights also have a longer life expectancy and use less power – one downside is that the transformer can get warm which can then also become a fire hazard, make sure air can circulate all the way around it
Never overload sockets or extensions 🔌
Never leave lights on when you go to bed as fires can spread very quickly 🛌🏻
Make sure your lights conform to British Standard EN60598 – it’s very tempting to buy bargain fairy lights online but there is a reason they are so cheap and they are probably not safety tested 💰
Never have lit candles near your Christmas tree 🕯
Don’t hang Christmas decorations from light fittings 💡
Make sure your smoke alarm is tested at least monthly but particularly at this time of year 💨
Have a safety plan that all your family is aware of in case of fire 👨🚒🧯🚒
If you have followed all of the safety rules we would love to see your Christmas trees in the comments 🎅🎄🤶🏻
Sources: Fire Protection Online, Gov.uk, Fire Scotland
