Increased fire risk as fuel bills soar

Electric heaters, open fires and candles are the most causes of fires in the home but with gas and electric prices around 20 per cent higher than this time last year, fire safety experts are warning residents to exercise caution when using them.

In the last six months, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has attended 23 accidental house fires involving heaters, open fires and candles or naked flames across the whole of the county.

But that number traditionally increases in the autumn and winter, as nights become darker and the weather turns colder.

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Diane Malpass, station manager in Community Safety, said: “As colder weather returns in the autumn months, we traditionally see a seasonal increase in certain types of incident, such as chimney fires or accidental blazes started by candles, heaters or unsafe electrical appliances.”

Fire prevention advice offered to residents by SYFR includes:

• Open fires: be careful using open fires to keep warm. Use a fire guard to protect against flying sparks and make sure embers are properly extinguished before going to bed.
• Heaters: keep heaters away from curtains and furniture and never use them to dry clothes.
• Electric blankets: Never use hot water bottles in the same bed as an electric blanket, even if it is switched off.
•  Candles: never leave naked flames unattended and only put them on heat resistant surface.

For more information on keeping safe from fire this autumn and winter, visit www.syfire.gov.uk.