After another explosive edition of EastEnders, London Fire Brigade is reminding people that mixing candles and too much alcohol can lead to disaster.
In last night’s episode (Thursday 5 July) of the long running BBC soap millions of viewers saw Jean, Bianca and Shirley enjoying a boozy night out before sneaking into luckless Ian Beale's new restaurant after hours.
After the tipsy ladies lit candles they managed to knock them to the floor where the flames ignited some spilt brandy. They then tried to put the fire out themselves with buckets of water without calling the fire brigade.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “We realise this is a tv drama but we would hate real life Londoners to find themselves in the same predicament as these three EastEnder's characters. You should always take care with candles, make sure they are placed on an even heat resistant surface and don't use them if you've had a lot to drink. And if there is a fire never try and tackle it yourself. Always get out, stay out and call 999.”
More tips on using candles safely:
• Always place your candles/tea lights in a suitable fire resistant candleholder
• Make sure the candleholder holds the candle/tea light firmly and is on a flat and stable surface to stop it falling over.
• Always put the candleholder on a heat resistant surface like a ceramic plate (tea lights can melt plastic surfaces such as the top of a television or the side of a bath).
• Always leave at least 10cm (four inches) between burning candles/tea lights and never place them under shelves or other enclosed spaces. Keep candles/tea lights, matches and lighters out of the reach of children and pets.
• Keep candles/tea lights away from curtains, furniture and anything else that can catch fire. Keep loose clothing and hair away from candles/tea lights when they are lit.
• Always put candles/tea lights out and leave to cool down before you try to move them. Always put candles/tea lights out when you are out of the room and when you go to sleep.
• Use a candle ‘snuffer’ or a metal spoon to put the candle/tea light out – it is safer than blowing them out which can send sparks and hot wax flying.
You can find much more fire safety information on our website.