Diwali is the five-day Festival of Lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world. As such, there is an increase in the use of candles, lanterns and oil lamps (known as diyas or divas) by those celebrating. It is believed that light signifies goodness, enlightenment, knowledge and wisdom; therefore, candles and lamps are used throughout the day and into the night to ward off darkness and evil.
Statistics show that there is an increased fire risk at Diwali time but, by taking just a few simple precautions, you can reduce the dangers to yourself and your family.
Please also ensure that you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, and test them regularly.
Safe lighting
- Secure candles and diyas in a proper holder and at a safe distance from curtains, decorations and clothing.
- Keep them out of reach for children.
- Consider swapping candles for battery-operated LED tea lights.
- Use only enough ghee or oil for a diya to last your puja.
- It is common practice during Diwali to leave candles burning all day but please extinguish candles and diyas when you leave the room, the house or go to bed.
- Be careful if using incense sticks.
For candle safety advice, click here.
Cooking safely
- Almost half of all accidental fires in the home are cooking related.
- Keep your cooker and hob clean and clear.
- Distractions could be disastrous – so don’t leave pans unattended.
- Don’t fill your pan with more than one third of oil.
- If the oil starts to smoke, turn off the heat and leave it to cool.
- Never pour water over hot oil.
- Clothing ignites quicker than you think – so keep scarves and long sleeves tied back, and be careful if wearing long items such as saris, chunris, chunis and dupattas.
- Only use appliances like pressure cookers if they were purchased from the UK and carry the CE mark.
- If a fire does start, don’t try to fight it yourself. Get out stay out, and call 999.
For more cooking safety advice, click here.
Electrics
- Make sure all electrical appliances have a British or European safety mark.
- Keep electrical leads and appliances away from water.
- Remember – one plug per socket. If you need more plugs than there are sockets, use a multi-socket extension lead with integral fuse, never a block adaptor.
- NEVER ‘daisy-chain’ extension leads or adapters – daisy-chaining involves plugging one extension into another in order to reach further or plug more appliances in, and creates a huge fire risk.
- Unplug appliances at night or when you’re not using them to reduce the risk of fire – unless they are designed to be left on all the time (for example, a fridge or freezer).
- Keep electrical appliances clean and in good working order.
For more safety advice around electrics, click here.
Fireworks and festivities
- Only buy fireworks which carry the CE mark, keep them in a closed box and use them one at a time.
- Read and follow the instructions on each firework using a torch if necessary.
- Place on a stable surface, light the firework at arm’s length with a taper and stand well back.
- Keep naked flames, including cigarettes, away from fireworks.
- Never return to a firework once it has been lit.
- Dispose of fireworks by soaking in a bucket of water for several hours, bag it and bin in your usual black bin once completely cool.
- Never use paraffin or petrol on a bonfire.
- If using sparklers, ensure they are held in a gloved hand at arm’s length and there is a bucket of water to put them in once the sparkler is out.
- The Fire and Rescue Service actively discourages the use of sky lanterns, due to them being both a fire hazard and a danger to wildlife, pets and people.
For more firework safety advice, click here.