Nottinghamshire residents warned over decorations fire danger

The County Council’s Trading Standards team is currently informing local companies involved in the manufacture, supply or installation of stone fireplaces to remind them of best practice on the safe installation of such fire surrounds.

The two national incidents involved modular, stone or artificial stone fireplaces consisting of a number of parts assembled in the home to form the surround which fell from the wall.

Steel fixings, dowels and screws should be used to hold the stone parts in position and to secure them to the wall.

Some parts can exceed 50kg in weigh and the mantel shelf may have a significant overhang which makes means it is liable to topple off if not secured properly.

Coun Glynn Gilfoyle, Chair of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Community Safety Committee, said: “Christmas is often a time when families get a new fireplace for Christmas or adorn their existing surround with festive decorations and stockings.

“At the same time we want people to check that their fireplace is properly fitted to avoid any further tragic accidents.”

For more info call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06.