You are here: Home: Housing: Advice and support: Home fire safety

Home fire safety

Fires in the home kill several hundred people in the UK every year. Small fires are more common, causing serious injuries and extensive damage to property and possessions.

By following a few simple steps and maintaining a basic level of awareness you can considerably reduce the chances of fire in your home. The easiest and most effective way of protecting your home is by fitting at least one smoke alarm, and regularly making sure it works.

Twelve steps to protect yourself and your home from fire

The following tips will help keep your family and home safe:

1. Fit smoke alarms on each level in your home. Keep them free from dust and test them once a week. Consider buying a 10-year alarm; otherwise change the batteries in your alarm every year.
2. Make a fire action plan so that everyone in your home knows how to escape if there is a fire. Keep the exits from your home clear so that people can escape if there is a fire.
3. Make sure that everyone in your home can easily find the keys for doors and windows.
4. Take extra care in the kitchen - accidents while cooking account for over half of fires in homes. Never leave young children alone in the kitchen.
5. Take extra care when cooking with hot oil. Consider buying a deep-fat fryer, which is controlled by a thermostat (if you don't already have one).
6. Never leave lit candles in rooms that nobody is in or in rooms where children are on their own. Make sure candles are in secure holders on a surface that doesn't burn and are away from any materials that could burn.
7. Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly and are disposed of carefully, and never smoke in bed.
8. Get into the habit of closing doors at night. If you want to keep a child's bedroom door open, close the doors to the lounge and kitchen, it may well help save their life if there is a fire.
9. Don't overload electrical sockets. Remember one plug for one socket.
10. Keep matches and lighters where children can't see or reach them.
11. Take special care when you're tired or when you've been drinking.
12. Don't leave the TV or other electrical appliances on standby as this could cause a fire. Always switch it off and unplug when it's not in use.

To assess the risks to you and your family visit the Fire Gateway  Online home risk assessment|.

You can request a free home fire safety check by visiting Home visit request|  or telephone 0800 587 4536.

back to top