An 86-year-old Dundee woman had a lucky escape when her Christmas decorations started a fire at her sheltered home.
Though Sunday’s blaze caused only minor damage, the consequences of the incident had the potential to be far from festive, Tayside Fire and Rescue crew manager Iain MacLeod told The Courier.
Fortunately, the elderly woman was alerted by the fire alarm at her home in Fintry Mains shortly before 10.30am. She was able to escape from her house without injury and though an ambulance was called it was not required.
The small fire had been extinguished before firefighters arrived and, apart from destroying the decorations and leaving a few small holes in a carpet, the property escaped unscathed.
But Mr MacLeod said the outcome could have been far more serious.
He explained that the potentially lethal combination of candles and Christmas decorations had been responsible for the fire.
”The occupant had some candles on her fireplace and above it had put Christmas decorations. The flames from the candles had set fire to the decorations.
”Obviously we don’t want a happy time of year to be disrupted by tragedy,” he said.
”Most decorations are made of light materials, such as tissue paper and card, which burn easily, so it is particularly important for people to take care over where they put them.
”In particular, decorations should not be hung over heaters or lights and they should not be hung above or near fireplaces and should be kept well away from candles.
”If anybody has any worries about fire safety we are happy to provide a home fire safety visit,” he added.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) agrees fire is one of the most serious hazards associated with Christmas.
According to the association, domestic fire deaths are 50% more likely over the Christmas period than at any other time of year.
Rospa says that a combination of smoking and drinking alcohol are well-known risk factors, but candle fires also claim lives each year.
During 2008 there were nearly 1,400 candle fires in homes across the UK, killing 18 people and injuring more than 500.