Safety Facts for Autumn Nights: Spooky Season Statistics
Halloween and Bonfire Night Home Safety: Autumn Risks to Watch Out For
As the clocks go back and the evenings get darker, Halloween and Bonfire Night bring plenty to look forward to. Pumpkins appear on doorsteps, fireworks light up the sky and many of us spend more time at home as the temperature drops.
But autumn can also introduce a few additional risks around the home.
From candles and fireworks to darker evenings, portable heaters and overloaded electrical sockets, a little preparation can help keep your home safer throughout spooky season.
1. Swap pumpkin candles for LED lights
A carved pumpkin wouldn't be quite the same without its glow, but you don't necessarily need a real flame to create it.
Candles placed inside pumpkins can become a fire risk if they are knocked over or positioned close to decorations, costumes, curtains, furniture or dry leaves.
London Fire Brigade recommends considering battery-operated lights or glow sticks as an alternative to candles at Halloween.
If you do use real candles:
Place them on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
Keep them away from anything that could catch fire.
Keep children and pets at a safe distance.
Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed.
Battery-operated LED candles can provide much the same effect without an exposed flame.
2. Take extra care with Halloween costumes
Candles aren't only a potential danger to your home. They can also pose a particular risk when people are wearing costumes.
Loose or flowing fancy-dress materials may catch fire quickly if they come into contact with a naked flame.
Keeping candles and other ignition sources well away from costumes is therefore especially important when children are trick-or-treating or you're hosting a Halloween gathering.
LED candles and lights can be a safer choice around decorations and costumes.
3. Bonfire Night remains one of the busiest nights for firefighters
The risks don't disappear when Halloween ends.
On 5 November 2025, London Fire Brigade received 831 calls, its highest number on Bonfire Night since 2016 and around 20% more than in 2024.
Incidents included an out-of-control bonfire, fires reportedly involving fireworks and trees and outdoor areas catching alight.
London Fire Brigade recommends attending an organised public fireworks display rather than holding your own.
If you do use fireworks at home, follow the instructions carefully and the official Firework Code. Fireworks should be kept well away from buildings, fences, sheds, trees, people and animals, and you should never return to a firework once it has been lit.
Bonfires should also be positioned well away from property, fencing and hedges and should never be left unattended.
4. Remember that sparklers can cause serious burns
Sparklers might look less hazardous than fireworks, but they still burn at extremely high temperatures.
Firework injuries also continue to result in hospital treatment. Figures published by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service showed that 37 people required emergency treatment for firework-related injuries between 4 and 6 November in one reporting period, with almost half of those injured aged under 16.
If you're using sparklers:
Always supervise children.
Wear gloves.
Hold them at arm's length.
Never give sparklers to very young children.
Put used sparklers into a bucket of cold water.
And never pick up a firework or sparkler that has recently been used with your bare hands.
5. Check your electrics as autumn decorations go up
Halloween lights, illuminated decorations and outdoor displays can mean extra demand on electrical sockets and extension leads.
Avoid connecting several extension leads together or overloading sockets. If electrical equipment is intended for outdoor use, check that it is suitable for that purpose and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
It is also worth checking older seasonal decorations before plugging them in. Damaged cables, plugs or lights should not be used.
6. Give portable heaters some space
As temperatures begin to fall, portable heaters often make their first appearance of the season.
Keep heaters well away from curtains, bedding, clothing, furniture and other items that could catch fire.
They should be placed on a stable surface and never covered. Avoid leaving portable heaters running unattended or while you're asleep.
If you've stored a heater throughout the summer, check its cable, plug and condition before using it again.
7. Test your smoke alarms
The clocks changing can also provide a useful reminder to check the safety equipment around your home.
Government fire-safety guidance recommends testing smoke alarms at least once a month. Where an alarm has a replaceable one-year battery, the battery should be changed each year.
Check that alarms haven't been covered or obstructed and never remove the battery simply because an alarm has sounded accidentally.
If you're unsure whether you have the right number or type of alarms for your home, your local fire and rescue service may be able to provide further advice.
8. Make your home look occupied on darker evenings
Fire safety isn't the only consideration at this time of year.
With sunset arriving earlier, homes can appear unoccupied much sooner in the day. Crime Survey for England and Wales data continues to track the significant proportion of burglaries that take place during the evening or at night.
A few everyday security measures can help make a property less inviting to an opportunistic burglar:
Lock doors and windows whenever you leave your home.
Don't leave keys within reach of letterboxes or visible through windows.
Consider using timer-controlled indoor lights when you're out.
Motion-activated outdoor lighting can illuminate entrances and pathways.
Keep garages, sheds and side gates secured.
Avoid leaving valuable items visible from outside.
Don't advertise holidays or periods away from home publicly on social media.
Remember to lock up even if you're only popping out for a short time.
9. Don't forget sheds, garages and gardens
Autumn often means garden furniture, bicycles, tools and other summer equipment are being moved into sheds and garages.
These areas can contain surprisingly valuable collections of belongings.
Check the locks on sheds, garages and gates and avoid leaving tools outside that could potentially be used to gain access to your property.
If you have purchased expensive equipment, bicycles or other items during the year, it may also be worth checking whether your insurance provides the level of cover you expect when those belongings are stored in an outbuilding.
Policy limits and conditions can vary.
10. Check what your home insurance actually covers
Halloween and Bonfire Night are also useful reminders to make sure you understand your home insurance.
Don't assume every type of accidental damage, fire, theft or damage to belongings will automatically be covered. The cover provided, policy limits and exclusions will depend on your insurer and the policy you've chosen.
Things worth checking can include:
Buildings and contents cover
Check which parts of your property and which belongings are insured, together with any applicable limits.
Accidental damage
Accidental damage may be included, available as an optional extra or subject to specific exclusions depending on the policy.
Items kept outside the home
Different limits or conditions may apply to belongings stored in garages, sheds and other outbuildings.
High-value belongings
Certain valuable possessions may need to be individually specified on a policy.
Home security requirements
Your policy may contain conditions relating to locks, alarms or other security measures.
If anything about your circumstances or property has changed since you took out your policy, contact your insurer or broker if you're unsure whether they need to know.
Enjoy spooky season without any unwanted surprises
Halloween and Bonfire Night should be about costumes, pumpkins, fireworks and spending time with family and friends – not dealing with an avoidable fire, injury or break-in.
Checking your smoke alarms, securing your home, being careful with candles and decorations and understanding your insurance cover can all help reduce some of the risks that come with darker autumn evenings.
And when it comes to fireworks, an organised display may offer all of the spectacle without bringing the additional risks into your own garden.
Looking for home insurance?
Performance Direct can help you find home insurance to suit your circumstances.
Get a home insurance quote today or contact our team to discuss your requirements.
Cover, limits, exclusions and eligibility vary by insurer and policy. Please refer to your policy documentation for full terms and conditions.
Sources
London Fire Brigade – Halloween safety advice
London Fire Brigade – Fireworks safety advice
London Fire Brigade – Bonfire Night incident data, November 2025
GOV.UK – Fire safety in the home
Office for National Statistics – Crime Survey for England and Wales, Nature of Crime: Burglary
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service – Firework injury statistics
