Derbyshire named safest place to spend Christmas

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It’s been revealed that Derbyshire is the safest place to spend Christmas this year.

Fire and Rescue services responded to 1,530 incidents in England last Christmas, but in Derbyshire, there were only 2, the lowest number in the country.

For comparison, Greater London saw 395, and the national average was 35

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The findings, a combination of Home Office data and exclusive Freedom of Information figures acquired by PE, revealed Northumberland came second lowest, and Shropshire third lowest, with 4 and 9 incidents respectively.

For comparison, Greater London saw 395, and the national average was 35For comparison, Greater London saw 395, and the national average was 35
For comparison, Greater London saw 395, and the national average was 35

Over the past 6 Christmases, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service attended a total of 78 incidents.

Of these, 36 were false alarms – that’s 46%.

As Christmas approaches, PE - https://pe.solutions/ - requested further data via a Freedom of Information request.

Over the past 6 years, there have been 3 incidents where a Christmas Tree was explicitly mentioned or was a contributing factor.

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Examples included Christmas Tree lights catching ablaze, and a candle near a Christmas Tree.

Josh Edwards from PE, who analysed the data and sent the Freedom of Information requests, said it’s vital to be mindful of fires this Christmas.

“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,

“My top tips are:

"Unplug the holiday cheer before you go: 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.

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"Switch off to stay safe: 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.

"A clear cooker is a safer cooker: 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.

"The gift of safety: smoke alarms: 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 replace batteries if needed.”

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