Celebrate Safely

Celebrate Safely

Celebrate Safely is a campaign run jointly between Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, Leicestershire Police, Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council, to try and keep our communities safe through periods of celebrations and when key events are taking place. It is important to carry out celebrations safely to reduce the risk of any incidents.

Please refer to the specific areas below for tips on how to celebrate safely:

Image: Celebrate Safely

Candle Safety

If you use candles or tea lights, we urge you to follow the key safety tips below to keep you, your home and your family safe:

  • Make sure candles and tea lights are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire – like curtains, furniture, etc.
  • Keep candles and divas away from draughts.
  • Never move a candle once it is lit.
  • Do not burn several candles close together as this might cause flaring (mainly with tea-lights).
  • Never put divas or candles on top of televisions or other plastic surfaces when alight.
  • Put candles out when you leave the room, and make sure they're put out completely at night.
  • Keep children and pets away from lit candles. NEVER use a candle for a night light.

Divas and Pujas

  • Use only enough ghee or oil for a diva to last your prayers (puja).
  • Priests from the temples advise their congregation to put the diva out immediately after the prayers (pujas) are finished.
  • Keep the flame at a safe distance from curtains, decorations and clothing at all times.
  • If you do need to leave a diva, candle or night light unattended, make sure it is resting securely on a surface that will not melt or burn. Be aware of ash from incense falling onto flammable surfaces.
  • Consider using electric or battery-powered candles/lights (remember to check that they comply with UK and EU regulations—kitemark and CE symbol).
  • Top tip: Close inside doors at night.

Diwali Gujarati with Police

Cooking Safety

The majority of fires start in the kitchen, so this is a high-risk area especially during celebrations. Follow our safety tips below to help you celebrate safely:

  • Never cook if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Do not fill your pan with more than a third of oil.
  • Keep hot pans out of reach from children or pet's.
  • Keep an eye on your cooking. Never leave cooking unattended.
  • Take care with loose clothing and tea towels – they can easily catch fire.
  • Avoid getting distracted.
  • Always turn off kitchen appliances when you have finished cooking.
  • Do not risk cooking when you get home from a night out drinking – get a takeaway instead.
Image: Cooking Safety
Image: Bonfires and Fireworks

Bonfires and Fireworks

A bonfire or beacon are great ways to celebrate Bonfire Night and other events, below are our top tips for celebrating safely:

  • Never return to a lit firework.
  • It is best to attend an organised firework display.
  • It is illegal to set off fireworks in the street.
  • If you are putting on your own bonfire or fireworks display, please follow all the correct procedures.
  • Ensure everyone is wearing gloves - sparklers reach temperatures of over 1,000ºC.
  • Never let children touch fireworks.

Electrical Safety

There are a number of electrical safety tips we advise you to follow whilst celebrating, and these can be seen below:

  • Check that fairy lights are in good working order and replace any bulbs that blow. They should conform to the British Standard (BS EN 60598).
  • Switch off fairy lights and unplug them before you go to bed or leave the house.
  • Do not let bulbs touch anything that can burn easily, such as paper or fabrics.
  • You may have more electrical items in use when you are celebrating, so be careful not to overload sockets – only use one plug per socket.
  • Always turn off plugs when they are not in use, except those that are designed to be left on, like freezers.
  • Always use an RCD (residual current device) on outdoor electrical equipment. This safety device, which can be bought in DIY stores, saves lives by instantly switching off the power if there is a fault.
  • If you have new electronics, it is worth keeping an eye on product recalls.
  • Always charge electronic devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops on a hard surface, never between bed sheets or under pillows.
  • Always unplug electric heaters when you go out or go to bed.
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Out and About

  • Turn off fairy lights, cooking and put out candles before you go out.
  • If you are driving, avoid the Fatal Four (drink and drugs, mobile phones, speeding and not wearing a seatbelt). For more information see our road safety page.
  • Be the designated driver or book a taxi before you leave.
  • Take care on the roads - it is better to arrive late than not at all. See our winter driving safety page for more information.
  • Make sure you keep all your belongings safe and look out for your friends and family.
  • If you have been drinking, check when you will be legal to drive again.

Smoke Alarms

You are around 8 times more likely to die from a fire if you do not have a working smoke alarm in your home. Please follow the advice below to make sure you celebrate safely:

  • Test your smoke alarms before you start celebrating.
  • Make sure that you have a working smoke alarm installed on each level of your home.
  • A working smoke alarm can give you the vital time needed to escape in a fire.
  • Test your smoke alarms weekly and do not remove working batteries for any reason.
Image: Smoke Alarms