Fire officials advise caution when using candles and electric heaters. Ofgem shows gas and electricity prices have increased by 86%.

After several recent house fires, fire officials have warned homeowners to exercise caution when using candles and electric heaters to reduce their energy bills. This month, flat fires in Uxbridge were caused by candles. Fire chiefs in Cumbria reported increased fires due to the usage of unswept chimneys and candles.

A fire in Wakefield was caused by an overnight use of a tumble dryer to save money.

The average annual electricity cost is now £1,297, compared to £815 last year. And the average annual gas bill has increased from £602 to £1,336, a total increase of 86%. As a result of soaring food prices, the cost of a traditional Christmas dinner has increased by about 30% since last year.

A Devon county councilor, stated, “It is understandable that many people are looking for methods to cut costs and save money as we strive to manage rising energy costs and the effects of inflation.” “This mustn’t come at the expense of safety. We are imploring people to prevent a catastrophe by taking a few easy safety precautions. Such as installing and periodically testing smoke alarms, which might save your or a loved one’s life.”

It was said that candles should never be left unattended, that flammable furniture and drying clothing should be removed from heaters or fires. That the correct fuel should be used for wood-burning stoves, and that open fires and chimneys must be wiped.

The number of persons tampering with gas and electricity meters increased 400% between 2017 and 2021.

A spark from a prepayment meter that had been unlawfully bypassed ignited a tragic fire in Glasgow. The Energy Networks Association said that meter manipulation attempts by do-it-yourselfers frequently result in exposed live electricity conductors.

The National Fire Chiefs Council reported 940 candle-related house fires in England in the year ending in March 2022. The highest number recorded in more than a decade. A third of these fires resulted in fatalities or injuries.

“The NFCC is concerned that these numbers could increase due to the public’s understandable desire to find ways to cope with rising costs as inflation rates rise,” it stated.