On these crisp autumn nights leading up to Halloween, friendsand family gather to carve pumpkins and togetherness, amid abackdrop of scattered seeds and saws, grimacing jack-o-lanterns,and paper luminaries. Once the carving carnage has been cleared,it's time for everyone to display their handiwork, which rangesfrom the intricate to the downright goofy.

Unfortunately for some, the attention to detail stops there.U.K.-based Swinton Insurance recently surveyed 1,000 of itshomeowners' insurance policyholders to gauge fire hazards. Thefindings indicated that 74 percent of surveyed families leave litpumpkins on display in empty rooms. Another 8 percent admitted toleaving lanterns precariously placed on windowsills, where thelanterns could easily topple over and set carpets or other softfurnishings ablaze. The risk of this is especially high when youngchildren and pets are in the vicinity.

Fire statistics issued by the Communities for Local Governmentonly reaffirmed this inattention as a serious concern, not just interms of resultant claims but also in serious injuries. The entityreported that, in 2007, candles (presumably related to the surge inuse around Halloween) resulted in 1,300 accidental fires in theU.K., causing 26 fatalities.

"Pumpkins are often seen as 'harmless fun,' so people becomecomplacent about the genuine risks associated with them," saidSteve Chelton, insurer development manager at Swinton. "At Swinton,we advise everyone to be extra careful this Halloween with bothpumpkins and candles, and take precautions to ensure that you donot put your family or home at risk."