We are urging the public not to give themselves an unnecessary fright this Halloween and to take extra care using candles.
As the scariest time of the year approaches, we are warning people putting candles in carved pumpkins and using decorative Halloween lights to do so safely, to minimise the risk of fire and injury.
Candles are one of the biggest causes of fires in the home and although they can be used to create a dark and spooky atmosphere, they should never be left unattended or Londoners risk finding a real horror scene on their return.
Our top candle safety tips are:
• Always place your candles/tea lights in a suitable fire resistant candleholder.
• Always put the candleholder on a heat resistant surface like a ceramic place.
• Keep candles/tea lights away from curtains, furniture and anything else that can catch fire.
• Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.
Candles should be fully extinguished and decorative lights turned off both at night, and when going out.
Our Third Officer, Dave Brown, said: “We are not out to try and spoil any fun or celebrations leading up to Halloween, we just don’t want people to risk unnecessary scares. All we ask is that extra care is taken, particularly where candles are being used.
“Candles should be kept well away from any fabric or clothing that could catch fire, including scary fancy dress costumes and it’s vital candles are put out when people leave a room, otherwise the results can be catastrophic.”