SHOPS are now full of Halloween fancy dress costumes but a Sun on Sunday investigation has found that some ignite within ONE SECOND and burn for more than 10 minutes.
We put 15 spooky outfits from major retailers to the test by setting them alight in a controlled environment at Pegswood Fire Station in Northumberland.
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Despite all the outfits being made from polyester – one of the most flame retardant materials on the market – the results were shocking.
Many didn’t catch fire but shrivelled up and melted, with plastic dripping onto the floor.
Ross Gray, Station Manager at Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Halloween costumes are made from material which is much more flammable than the material in everyday clothes.
“Our main advice is to keep away from naked flames such as tea lights, candles and sparklers while wearing these costumes. They can catch fire in fractions of seconds.
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“Use battery lighted tea lights in your pumpkins to minimise the risk.
“Try to wear normal clothes under the costumes to protect your skin in case your costume catches fire.
“Any temperature around the 100 degree mark can cause the material to cling to the skin and inflict life changing injuries.
“Polyester has a tendency to melt when on fire. You can get away from a flame, but you can’t run from a material which has melted onto your skin.
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“The costumes themselves don’t pose a risk – it’s the combination of naked flames at Halloween and the flammable materials which is dangerous.”
HOME BARGAINS
Purple witch costume, age 2-3 – £9.99
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IGNITE TIME: 2 SECONDS
BURN TIME: 3 MINUTES 43 SECONDS – Entire dress, including hat obliterated and netting melted.
Hallow Scream Pumpkin costume, age 2-3, £7.99
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IGNITE TIME: 2 SECONDS
BURN TIME: Inside of dress strongly burnt and some netting melted in 6 MINUTES AND 10 SECONDS.
A spokesperson for Home Bargains said: “We take the safety of our customers extremely seriously, which is why all of our children’s dress-up garments are stringently tested to the relevant toy and clothing standards, and are labelled with appropriate fire safety warnings and confirmation of additional safety testing for flammability”.
MORRISONS
Wicked Wearewolf Costume, age 11-12, £14
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IGNITE TIME: 1.8 SECONDS
BURN TIME: 6 MINUTES AND 4 SECONDS. One quarter of the body burned.
Blue witch costume, age 5-6, £8
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IGNITE TIME: 1 SECOND
BURN TIME: A small patch on the skirt burned in 49 SECONDS.
Dinosaur Costume, aged 3-4, £14
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IGNITE TIME: 2 SECS
BURN TIME: 58 SECS – one leg burned.
A spokesperson for Morrison’s said: “All of our Halloween costumes continue to be independently tested to well above, not just the legally required safety standard – this includes a test which recreates real life accidents.
“We have established proven design and production specifications for our costumes so customers can be confident that it exceeds safety requirements.”
TESCO
Peppa Pig “Magical and Spooky” witch costume, age 3 – 4, £15
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IGNITE TIME: NONE.
BURN TIME: NONE. Outfit didn’t burn.
Baby Halloween Dracula costume, age 3-6 months, £12
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IGNITE TIME: 1 SECOND
BURN TIME: 1 MINUTE 19 SECONDS. Fire burned one leg – didn’t spread.
Black stars witch costume, age 5 – 6 – £9
IGNITE TIME: 1 SECOND
BURN TIME: 3 MINUTES AND 20 SECONDS. Dress netting melted, the bodice and hat burned quickly and the hat was obliterated.
Skeleton costume, age 7-8 years, £9
IGNITE TIME: 2 SECS
BURN TIME: 7 MINUTES burnt slowly, eventually fell off the hanger and continued to burn on the floor.
Baby Halloween pumpkin costume, 3-6 months – £15
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IGNITE TIME: 1 SEC
BURN TIME: 7 MINS 10 SECS – t-shirt underneath the pumpkin ignited immediately and set fire to rest of the costume causing it to burn from the inside – huge flames licked the face and in just over seven minutes the outfit was in tatters.
A Tesco spokesperson said: “There’s nothing more important than our customers’ safety, so all of our kids’ Halloween costumes meet the most stringent recognised industry safety standards and are made from materials that perform well in flammability tests.”
SAINSBURY’S
Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, age 3 – 4, £15
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IGNITE TIME: 1 SECOND
BURN TIME: 3 MINUTES 20 SECONDS – caught fire upwards before the costume dropped from the hanger and continued to burn on the floor – upper dress and hat obliterated.
Scary clown, age 9 – 10, £16
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COSTUME IGNITE TIME: 1 SEC
COSTUME BURN TIME: 53 SECS
MASK IGNITE TIME: 1 SEC
MASK BURN TIME: 10 MINS 9 SECS – hair on the mask caught fire straight away and spread to rest of the costume – by the end the entire outfit had been obliterated
Pumpkin costume age 1-2 years, £13
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IGNITE TIME: 0.5 SECS
BURN TIME: 3MINS 48 SECS – ignited immediately and burnt fiercely – the legs melted – huge flames licked the face and the costume omitted plumes of black smoke – completely obliterated.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said, “This report is based on unrealistic and hugely misleading testing conditions.
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our products. It is why all our Halloween costumes are tested extensively to ensure they meet a range of safety standards.”
B&M
Frankenbaby Monster, age 3-4, £10
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IGNITE TIME: 1 SECOND
BURN TIME: 1 MINUTE 51 SECONDS. Burned in v shape – leg and about one third of the chest area obliterated.
B&M were contacted but don’t wish to comment.
LIDL
Skeleton costume, age 8-10
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PRICE: £5.99
IGNITE TIME: 1 SECOND
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BURN TIME: 3 MINUTES 4 SECONDS. Leg obliterated – netting did not burn.
Lidl have refused to comment.
