Yorkshire residents warned over fire safety this Christmas

It has been reported that South Yorkshire fire service officials have made a public plea to people living in the area to consider the very real danger posed by accidental house fires during the festive period.

Bosses from the fire service drew on statistics to back up the campaign, saying that, since the year 2003, over 100 injuries had taken place in the South Yorkshire region throughout the month of December, with 10 deaths resulting from fire-related incidents.

Officers said that the main fire hazards included things like cooking food, dry Christmas trees, fairy lights and Candles.

Spokesman Steve Makepeace said:

“The risk of fire in the home is an all year round issue, but people are particularly vulnerable at Christmas for reasons ranging from unsafe electrical decorations and unattended candles, to cooking whilst under the influence of alcohol.

“People also vastly underestimate the deadly strength of toxic smoke and overestimate how long they have to escape should a fire break out.

“The reality is that just two to three breaths of smoke in a fire can render a person unconscious.

“Christmas should be a time for celebration rather than tragedy and for this reason I’m urging people to be fire aware and stay fire safe.”