We’re joining forces with our emergency services partners and Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC) to launch our festive safety campaign, which appeals to us all to help keep our communities safe by following some basic fire safety tips and looking after each other this Christmas.

The campaign will be launched at the Blue Light Day at Parc Eirias on Saturday, 25^th November.

The Blue Light Day will see emergency services attending and running a range of activities to connect with their communities.

Free entry will be granted to the game against Merthyr RFC for emergency services personnel on producing relevant ID.

The gates will open at 1pm, with kick off at 2.30pm.

Kevin Jones, Head of Prevention for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, explained

“Working together and looking out for one another is what we do on a daily basis with our emergency services colleagues – and on the rugby pitch, the RGC players work as a team, always keeping an eye on their teammates as well as the ball.

“That is why we felt the Blue Light Day at Parc Eirias was the perfect place to launch our 2023 Christmas fire safety campaign, and we’ll be talking to fans here at this special ‘Blue Light’ game about how to stay safe and keep others safe over the festive season.

“The build up to Christmas and New Year is often a really busy time – so my appeal to you is to take just a few moments to consider fire safety and think about how you could help family, friends or neighbours stay safe from fire this Christmas, and ensure they have working smoke alarms fitted in their home.”

Alun Pritchard, RGC General Manager added: “We’re thrilled to be supporting the launch of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s Christmas Safety Campaign and would encourage all our fans to help protect friends, family and neighbours by looking out for each other this Christmas.”

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to stay safe and protect their homes from fire by following and sharing with others the twelve tips for festive fire safety:

1. Check your Christmas tree lights conform to the British Standard. Always use an RCD on outdoor electrical equipment (This is a safety device that can save lives by instantly switching off the power).
2. Never place candles near your Christmas tree, furniture or curtains. Don't leave them burning unattended.
3. Make sure your family and visitors staying for the festive period know what to do in an emergency. Practice a fire escape plan.
4. Decorations can burn easily - Don't attach them to lights or heaters.
5. Switch off electrical appliances when not in use, unless they're designed to stay on.
6. Take special care with Christmas lights. Always switch off and unplug them before you go to bed. Christmas is a time when we use more electrical items - don't overload sockets and plugs but use correctly fused multi gang safety leads.
7. Most fires start in the kitchen - never leave cooking unattended. The risk of accidents, especially in the kitchen, is greater after alcohol is consumed.
8. If you are planning to celebrate with fireworks, store them in a metal box, read the instructions, never go back to a lit firework and keep a bucket of water nearby.
9. Make sure cigarettes are completely extinguished.
10. Check the battery in your smoke alarm every week and use Christmas as a reminder to clean it and remove dust.
11. Keep candles, lighters and matches out of reach of children.
12. Take the time to check on elderly relatives and neighbours this Christmas. Make sure they are safe from fire, as well as checking on their well-being.

Visit our Facebook page to take part in our 12 days of Christmas safety competition starting next month and be in with a chance of winning £30 in supermarket vouchers

www.facebook.com/northwalesfire