Plug extensions set for busy Christmas

Love them or loathe them, there's no getting away from the festive decorations as homeowners across the country illuminate their houses like never before.

But after an overloaded plug extension led to a house fire in Annan, safety officials are warning people not to get too ambitious with their Christmas lights.

A man was taken to hospital where he was treated for smoke inhalation, while the blaze caused considerable damage to a conservatory and a kitchen.

A spokesperson for Dumfries and Galloway Fire Service has warned people to stick to a maximum of 13 amps per socket in order to avoid overloading, and never to plug one extension lead into another.

Watch manager Jason Gardiner also warned lighting enthusiasts to make sure extension leads are completely unrolled before using them, and to unplug all electrical decorations before going to bed or leaving the house.

Elsewhere, the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) has warned local residents of the dangers of faulty Christmas tree lights, and urges everyone to make sure their fairy lights conform to the British Standard.

DFRS has also warned locals over the use of outdoor electrical equipment, which is particularly popular over the Christmas period but can pose extra hazards as connections, switches and sockets are left exposed to the elements.

Advice includes using a residual current device, which can save lives by instantly switching off the power supply.

Similar suggestions are being made to schools who may be planning on getting festive, with the Fire Industry Association issuing a warning not to place any decorative lights in close proximity to paper ornaments, after government figures revealed that around 1,300 schools in the UK experience fires large enough to be attended by rescue services each year.

Overloading power supplies can cause the fuse board to blow, which is why fire services up and down the country are getting the message out now to act responsibly over the Christmas period, with all homeowners strongly advised to make sure they know exactly where their fuse box is.