Greater Manchester had the second highest number of fire incidents in the country last Christmas. Figures from the Home Office and a Freedom of Information request reveal the region had 72 over the festive season.
In the last seven years in Greater Manchester, 29 Christmas trees have caught fire and 30 callouts involved Xmas cooking. The figures have prompted a fire chief to issue a new safety warning for the Xmas and New Year holidays. A candle set fire to a Christmas tree in Bury leaving a family homeless.
Carlos Meakin, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Director of Prevention and Protection, said: “Christmas is an extremely busy time of year for our firefighters. As the second-largest fire service in the country, we respond to a high number of calls over the festive period.
READ MORE: LIVE: New Year’s Day ‘do not travel’ warning issued amid flooding in north of England – latest updates
READ MORE: Canal Street turned into real canal as torrents of rain lash Greater Manchester
A candle set fire to a christmas tree in Bullfinch Drive, Bury, leaving the family homeless on Xmas Day -Credit:Manchester Evening News
“During this time, people can help to keep themselves and their families safe with a few basic safety tips including not overloading plug sockets, taking care with candles and keeping a close eye on their cooking.
“E-bikes and e-scooters are a popular gift, and in recent years we have seen a significant rise in the number of fires involving their batteries. These fires can be very dangerous so we would encourage residents to charge these batteries carefully, not leaving them unattended or charging them when asleep.
“We want everyone to have a safe and happy Christmas and New Year but should they be needed, our firefighters stand ready to protect residents throughout this period.”
Christmas trees are a potential fire danger in the home -Credit:Getty Images
Data revealed that in Greater Manchester 31 of the 72 incidents last Christmas (43 percent) were actually false alarms.
‘Due to apparatus’, ‘good intent’, and ‘malicious’, each classify as ‘fire false alarms,’ which, according to the Government, is when Fire and Rescue services attend ‘a location believing there to be a fire incident but, on arrival, discover that no such incident exists or existed’.
Of these, only one was malicious, with the rest being due to errors or people acting with good intentions. Disregarding the false alarms, 25 were ‘Non-fire incidents’, eight in ‘Dwellings’, and four ‘Secondary Fires’.
The charred flat in Mulberry Court, Salford, after a fire caused by a battery for an e-bike.
In total last Christmas fire and rescue services responded to 1,530 incidents in England. The highest number was Greater London with 395. Josh Edwards from PE business solutions provider, who analysed data gained from FOI requests to brigades and the government, said: “If you’re going away for Christmas, or not visiting the office for the festive period, you need to be extra careful when it comes to fire safety.”
He added: “Festive lights and decorations bring joy to the season, but they can also pose an electrical fire risk if left unattended. These are not part of your daily routine for the rest of the year, making them easy to overlook during quick checks before heading out.
“Appliances like heaters, ovens, and chargers are essential for convenience and comfort, but they can also be fire hazards when left unattended. Before leaving, take the time to double-check that these devices are turned off or unplugged. Look out for overlooked items like desk heaters or devices left charging overnight.
“Kitchen counters and stovetops can often become cluttered with items like dish towels, packaging, or even decorations. These flammable materials can easily catch fire if they’re too close to a heat source. Before heading out, clear the area around the cooker and ensure no stray items are left near burners or ovens.
“Smoke alarms are your first line of defence against fire, and ensuring they are in proper working order before you leave is crucial. Test all alarms by pressing their test buttons and replacing batteries if needed.” Research was conducted by https://pe.solutions/