The fire department recommends, for example, that burning candles or tea lights should never be left unattended. Children should also never be left alone with burning candles. People who have pets should remember that pets often have no regard for Christmas decorations and can cause fires.

The Advent wreath should also be placed on a non-flammable surface - for example, a glass or porcelain plate. Special care should be taken with older, dry decorations and Christmas trees. The fire department appeals: "Don't leave them out too long after Christmas." Watering trees regularly or moistening flower arrangements with a flower sprayer significantly reduces the risk of fire.

Another recommendation from the experts is: "Only use safety candles and candle holders made of fireproof material. Avoid flammable surfaces or materials in the immediate vicinity such as curtains, paper napkins and wrapping paper or strong draughts." Matches and lighters should also be kept in places that children cannot reach.

A safe alternative to real candles is electric Christmas decorations, for example with energy-saving LED technology. When buying, consumers should look out for the VDE symbol. For items marked with the VDE symbol (German Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies), buyers can be sure that the purchased product does not pose any danger if handled properly.