Fire safety in the home

Helping you stay safe from everyday fire hazards

As part of the Government’s commitment to help prevent fatalities and injuries from accidental fire, we have teamed up with the Home Office’s Fire Kills campaign to provide you with important information to ensure that you stay safe in your home.

Everyday fire hazards are present in our homes. Common risks include leaving lit candles and cooking unattended, covering electric heaters, overloaded extension leads, and cigarettes. Smoke alarms only take a moment to test but they can give you and your family the best chance of surviving a fire. Remember to test your smoke alarms regularly. Read our article for a helpful guide on how to test and maintain your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

9 tips for staying safe from fire in your home

Make sure you have smoke alarms installed on every floor of your home and that they can be heard throughout your home.
Test your smoke alarms at least monthly – they could save your life, but only if they are working. Read our guide on testing smoke alarms.
If you know that an older family member, neighbour or friend may struggle to test their smoke alarms by themselves – offer to help them with testing their alarms.
Ensure that you have a fire escape plan in place. Practise how you’d escape in a fire and always have a plan B. Be prepared.
Most accidental fires start in the kitchen, so take care and never leave cooking unattended.
Don’t overload plug sockets and adapters – watch out for loose wiring, scorch marks, and hot plugs and sockets.
Keep heaters clear from curtains and furniture and never use them to dry clothes.
Stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully.
Book a ‘home fire safety visit’ with your local fire and rescue service, where a fire officer will visit to your home to give you advice on how to be fire safe.

For more fire safety information, visit firekills.campaign.gov.uk #FireKills