A fire can start very easily and can spread with frightening speed. This section explains how to prevent a fire from breaking out in your home.

Fire safety

You can dramatically reduce the risk of a fire breaking out in your house by following simple preventative measures

• Fire safety
• If a fire does break out
• Useful resources
• Related links

Fire safety

• Fit smoke alarms on each level in your home. Keep them free from dust and test them regularly. Consider buying a 10-year alarm; otherwise change the batteries in your alarm every year.
• 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. Make sure that everyone in your home can easily find keys for doors and windows.
• 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.
• 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).
• 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 does not burn and are away from any materials that could burn.
• Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly, disposed of carefully and never smoke in bed.
• 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.
• Don't overload electrical sockets. Remember one plug for one socket.
• Keep matches and lighters where children cannot see or reach them.
• Take special care when you are tired or when you've been drinking.
• Don't leave the TV or other electrical appliances on standby as this could cause a fire. Always switch it off and unplug when not in use.

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If a fire does break out

• Raise the alarm so that everyone in the house knows there is a fire.
• Get yourself and everyone else outside before causing 999.
• Don’t stop to get possessions or to investigate the source of the fire.
• If you are stuck inside, get everyone into a room with a window and telephone if possible.
• Shut the door/s to this room and put bedding or towels along the bottom of the door to stop the smoke getting to the room.
• Open the window and keep everyone near the fresh air.
• If you have a phone, call the fire brigade on 999. If you don’t have a phone, shout for help.

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Useful resources

Related links