Fire safety at home

Cooking accidents are the main cause of home fires. Others include faulty electrical appliances, smoking, lithium ion batteries and candles. 

But there are simple steps you can take to protect your home from fire.

Answer some questions and get a personalised fire safety action plan. We might also recommend a home visit.

Top 7 home fire safety tips

1. Smoke alarms – make sure you have working smoke alarms. They're not an early warning, they're your only warning. Smoke alarm tips
2. Home fire safety self-check – answer some questions and get a personalised fire safety action plan straightaway. It might suggest that you need a home fire safety visit.
3. Make a fire escape plan – it'll be quicker and easier to escape if you’ve already thought about it. Fire escape plans
4. Rechargeable batteries – take care when using devices with rechargeable lithium ion batteries. Damaged batteries, unsafe or incorrect chargers, poor quality products and unsafe charging practices can quickly cause fires. Batteries and lithium-ion charging
5. Cooking – never leave cooking unattended. Turn off the heat or take pans off the hob if you need to leave the kitchen. Keep flammable items such as tea towels and packaging away from the cooker. Cooking fire safety
6. Overloaded sockets – check for overloaded sockets, damaged plugs and frayed cables. Replace unsafe or counterfeit leads and switch off or unplug appliances when not in use. Electrical safety
7. Fire exits – keep them clear and accessible at all times.

Smoke alarms

Injuries and deaths can be prevented if you fit your home with a smoke alarm.

You can buy one for about £10 from any good electrical or DIY shop. Make sure it meets British Standards and displays the Kitemark logo.

7 smoke alarm tips

Make a fire escape plan

If there is a fire in your home, it'll be much easier for you to escape if you've already thought about the best way to get out quickly.

• Work out an escape route, making sure that you always keep it clear of obstructions like toys or anything that could block your way.
• Keep keys to doors and windows accessible.
• Check all the family know how to escape.
• Tell family or friends who may stay at your home overnight.

What to do during a fire

• Leave it to the professionals – don’t tackle fires yourself. Get out, stay out and call 999 or 112, requesting the fire service.

• Act quickly – get everyone out as soon as possible. Don't assume that everyone has heard the smoke alarm, particularly at night. Some children may not be woken by smoke alarms.
• Don’t waste time investigating what’s happened or rescuing valuables.
• If there's smoke, keep low where the air is clearer.
• Check if a door is warm before you open it – if it is, don’t open it. Fire is on the other side.
• Close doors behind you as you leave, if you can. Even a regular door can stop the spread of fire for long enough to allow firefighters to extinguish it before it destroys your property.
• Alert your neighbours.

Fires in the home – Prepare (GOV.UK)

After a fire

It's likely that you'll be distressed and unsettled after a fire or flood at your property. Here's some practical advice about what you need to do next.