Warning after Christmas decorations spark blaze... Cat and dog rescued...

Firefighters have urged residents to be extra cautious this Christmas after decorations started a blaze in a Tiverton flat last night.

No one was hurt in the incident but a dog and a cat had to be rescued, prompting a warning for people to follow advice issued by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue:

* Check your Christmas tree lights are in good working order and conform to the British Safety Standard. Never overload electrical sockets.

*Always switch off your Christmas lights before you go to bed or go out

* Never place lit candles near your Christmas tree, decorations or furnishings and never leave a burning candle unattended

* Decorations can burn easily - don’t attach them to lights or heaters

* Keep matches, lighters and candles out of children’s reach

* The risks of accidents, especially in the kitchen, are greater after alcohol is consumed - take care if you’re having a few festive drinks

* Never leave your Christmas dinner cooking unattended and make sure you switch off the oven and hob if you’re leaving the house

* Make sure that any visitors who are staying with you over the festive period know what to do in the event of an emergency and practice your escape plan. Remember to tell them where you keep door/window keys so they can escape safely if a fire starts

* Many fires start when people fall asleep whilst smoking, ensure you extinguish cigarettes properly and never smoke in bed

* If you are planning on celebrating with fireworks, store them in a metal box, read the instructions and never go back to a lit firework

* Remember to test your smoke alarm every week and use Christmas as a reminder to clean it and remove dust

* This Christmas take the time to check on elderly relatives and neighbours and make sure they are fire safe

Below is the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue report from the Tiverton incident:

Two fire appliances from Tiverton were mobilised to a report of a fire in a domestic property in Castle Street, Tiverton.

Upon arrival crews confirmed there was a fire in the property involving furnishings and Christmas decorations which they set to work extinguishing using personnel wearing breathing apparatus, a hose reel jet and a thermal imaging camera.

By 22:29 hours the fire had been extinguished and a cat and dog were rescued from the privately rented property.

The cause of the fire was accidental which resulted in severe smoke damage to the ground floor by smoke and slight damage by fire.