FIREFIGHTERS are urging people to put fire safety at the top of their Christmas to-do list to help keep everyone safe.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service is asking people to take extra care over the festive season to ensure that their families and loved ones are safe from fire.

This advice comes after there were 23 accidental fires in homes across Cumbria from December 1 2018 to January 11 2019.

The most common room where fires start is sad to be the kitchen.

Nearly 60 per cent of all the accidental fires attended by firefighters in Cumbria around the Christmas period last year started in the kitchen.

Edward Burrows, CFRS watch manager for prevention, said: “We want everyone to celebrate safely and take fire safety seriously this Christmas.

"Many of the things we enjoy over the Christmas period, such as fairy lights, candles and decorations, can all be fire hazards when proper care isn’t taken.

“We also need to be mindful that leaving cooking unattended can be one fire hazard that could be prevented, as could using the correct charging devices for items such as phones, laptops and torches.”

The fire service offered up some tips from National Fire Safety campaign to help you and your family enjoy Christmas safely:

• Ensure you have working smoke alarms installed on all levels of your home. Working alarms can give you the vital time needed to escape in a fire. Test your smoke alarms regularly and never remove batteries.

• Never leave cooking unattended. The majority of fires are start in the kitchen so this is a high risk area.

• Never leave burning candles unattended. Keep candles out of the reach of children, and away from decorations, cards and wrapping paper, fires, lights and heaters.

• Put your cigarette out.. If you smoke, make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished and take care when under the influence of alcohol or if you are tired. It’s very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning and set furniture alight.