Christmas brings additional cooking, decoration and heating hazards. The National Fire Chiefs Council’s December 2024 analysis of ten years of England data reported a higher fire risk on Christmas Day. This page distinguishes that historical analysis from the latest monthly fire statistics and from insurer-specific claims, with the period and geographical coverage stated beside each figure.
Key facts and figures
- 53% higher Christmas Day fire risk than an average day, reported by NFCC in December 2024 from ten years of England data.
- 10% higher accidental home-fire risk in December than other months, in the same historical NFCC analysis.
- 79.3 dwelling fires a day in England in December 2025, the highest monthly daily rate in 2025/26.
- 71.7 dwelling fires a day across the whole of 2025/26 in England; this includes accidental and deliberate fires.
- 9,928 accidental dwelling fires in England in 2025/26 had cooking appliances as their ignition source — an annual, not Christmas-only, figure.
- 2,094 accidental dwelling fires in Scotland in 2024/25 were caused by cooking, 56.8% of the total for that year.
- £25,000+ average candle-related home fire claim in Aviva’s 2021–2024 analysis, not an average for all Christmas fires.
- 15% of Aviva’s December home fire claims involved candles in its 2021–2024 analysis.
Checked on 15 October 2026. England’s latest monthly tables cover 2025/26. NFCC’s ten-year comparison was published in December 2024; insurer figures and Scotland’s incident statistics have their own periods.
How many house fires happen at Christmas in the UK?
There is no single published UK total for “Christmas fires” using a common festive window. England’s FIRE0802 table reports monthly rates by location. In December 2025 the dwelling-fire rate was 79.3 a day, compared with 71.7 across 2025/26.
December had the highest dwelling-fire daily rate that year, narrowly above April’s 78.8. All fires combined followed a different pattern, with outdoor fires contributing to higher spring and summer totals. A statement about home fires should not be presented as a statement about every type of fire.
Are you more likely to have a fire on Christmas Day?
NFCC’s December 2024 release reported that fire risk in England was 53% higher on Christmas Day than on an average day, based on analysis of the preceding ten years of Home Office data. This is a historical comparison, not a prediction for an individual home or a measured result for Christmas 2026.
The monthly FIRE0802 table reports calendar months. A December daily average cannot establish the number of fires on Christmas Day itself, so the monthly and Christmas Day comparisons describe different periods.
What causes the most fires at Christmas?
Cooking is a major home-fire hazard throughout the year. England recorded 9,928 accidental dwelling fires with cooking appliances as the ignition source in 2025/26, or 41.7% of the 23,795 total. These annual figures do not establish the percentage caused by Christmas cooking.
Scotland’s latest published incident statistics, for 2024/25, recorded 2,094 cooking-related accidental dwelling fires, 56.8% of 3,687. Fire services advise staying with cooking and avoiding cooking when tired or affected by alcohol.
Candles, heaters, electrical decorations and open fires create additional hazards. Aviva’s 2021–2024 claims analysis found candles in 15% of its December home fire claims and chimneys or fireplaces in 6%. Those shares describe one insurer’s claims, rather than all fires attended by fire services.
Are Christmas tree and fairy light fires common in the UK?
Christmas trees and decorations can provide fuel for a fire. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service advises keeping a real tree watered and away from heat, and using a recycling collection or centre for disposal. The sources checked do not provide a current UK-wide count of Christmas-tree fires.
Check lights for damage, follow their instructions and unplug them when leaving the house or going to bed. Do not overload sockets or position hot bulbs against combustible material. The Fire Kills campaign’s one-minute fire demonstration illustrates rapid spread; it is not a measured minimum or maximum time for every tree or set of lights.
Christmas fire statistics at a glance
These figures cover different measures and periods. Annual cooking counts and insurer claims should not be added to monthly dwelling-fire totals.
| Measure | Figure | Period and source |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day fire-risk comparison | 53% higher | NFCC, ten-year England analysis published December 2024 |
| December accidental home-fire comparison | 10% higher | Same historical NFCC analysis |
| December dwelling-fire daily rate | 79.3 | England, December 2025 |
| Annual dwelling-fire daily rate | 71.7 | England, 2025/26 |
| Cooking-ignited accidental dwelling fires | 9,928 (41.7%) | England, 2025/26; annual total |
| Cooking-related accidental dwelling fires | 2,094 (56.8%) | Scotland, 2024/25; annual total |
| Candle share of December home fire claims | 15% | Aviva claims, 2021–2024 |
| Average candle-related home fire claim | Over £25,000 | Aviva claims, 2021–2024; not all festive fires |
What do the Scottish festive figures show?
Scotland’s 2024/25 incident statistics recorded 3,687 accidental dwelling fires, including 2,094 caused by cooking. These annual figures describe the wider household risk; they are not a separate Christmas-period count.
Scotland’s fire statistics are published separately from England’s. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service publication schedule lists 30 October 2026 for its 2025/26 incident release, so 2024/25 remains the latest available annual incident series at this page’s check date.
How much do Christmas fires cost?
Aviva reported an average candle-related home fire claim above £25,000 in its 2021–2024 claims analysis. The figure is not an average for all Christmas fires, and it should not be described as excluding smoke damage or temporary accommodation without a stated breakdown.
The same analysis put chimneys and fireplaces at 6% of Aviva’s December home fire claims. It does not establish which festive fire type has the highest average cost, or the total cost of Christmas fires across the UK.
How can you prevent a fire this Christmas?
Stay with cooking, keep combustible packaging and tea towels clear of heat, and turn the heat off before leaving the kitchen. Avoid cooking when tired or affected by alcohol.
Check decorative lights, keep real trees watered and decorations clear of heat, and switch electrical decorations off when unattended. Test smoke alarms and make sure everyone knows the escape plan. An alarm can provide warning; it cannot guarantee a safe outcome.
For workplaces that stay busy over the festive period — hospitality venues, retail, care settings and offices running Christmas events — the same risks apply and belong in the fire risk assessment, with staff fire awareness training forming part of the control measures the Responsible Person must provide.
Frequently asked questions
How many house fires happen at Christmas in the UK?
There is no single comparable UK-wide Christmas total. England’s December 2025 dwelling-fire rate was 79.3 a day, the highest monthly rate in 2025/26. This is a December measure, not a Christmas Day count.
Are you more likely to have a fire on Christmas Day?
NFCC’s December 2024 analysis of ten years of England data reported a 53% higher fire risk on Christmas Day than on an average day. It is a historical comparison, not a forecast for Christmas 2026.
What causes the most fires at Christmas?
Cooking is a major year-round cause of home fires. Cooking appliances were the ignition source in 41.7% of England’s accidental dwelling fires in 2025/26. A separate Christmas-only percentage is not established by that annual figure.
Are Christmas tree and fairy light fires common in the UK?
The sources checked do not provide a current national count. Dry trees, damaged lights and combustible decorations can contribute to rapid fire spread. Keep trees watered, check lights and unplug decorations when unattended.
How much does a Christmas house fire cost?
There is no verified UK-wide average in these sources. Aviva’s 2021–2024 analysis reported an average above £25,000 specifically for candle-related home fire claims.
Where do UK Christmas fire statistics come from?
MHCLG publishes England’s monthly and annual incident tables. NFCC published a historical Christmas Day comparison in December 2024. Devolved fire services and insurer reports provide separate, clearly labelled evidence.
Related guides
- Cooking Fire Statistics UK: The No.1 Cause of House Fires
- Candle Fire Statistics UK: Fires, Deaths & Seasonal Trends
- Chimney Fire Statistics UK: How Many Per Year, Causes & Sweeping Data
- Smoke Alarm Statistics UK: Ownership, Failures & Lives Saved
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Statistics UK: Deaths, Incidents & Alarms
- How to Use a Fire Extinguisher: The PASS Method Explained
Sources & references
- MHCLG — FIRE0802 monthly rates and FIRE0602 ignition sources, 2025/26
- NFCC — Ten-year England Christmas comparison, December 2024
- Scottish Fire and Rescue Service — Incident statistics 2024/25 and release calendar
- Scottish Fire and Rescue Service — Festive safety guidance
- Aviva — Candle claims analysis, 2021–2024, published December 2025
- Fire Kills — Historical fire-spread demonstration and festive precautions
Christmas is the riskiest time of year for home fires — and cooking, heating and decorations put every UK workplace on alert too. Get your team fire aware in around 90 minutes with RoSPA-approved, CPD-certified training.
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Mark writes about workplace health & safety, fire safety awareness and accredited online training for Fire Safety Awareness Training, part of Online CPD Academy.