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Protecting your home against fire
House fires can start from cooking accidents or faulty electrics. Here are some top tips to help you take precautions to protect your home and your family in case an accident happens.
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Our home insurance got Mrs Smith back on her feet after a fire damaged her home. Find out what happened and get tips on how to keep your home safe (52 secs).
Top tips for fire safety in your home
Smoke alarms
- Safety-approved smoke alarms should be fitted to each floor of your home.
- Never disconnect or remove batteries from your smoke alarm, even if it goes off accidentally.
- Consider a mains-powered smoke alarm as they don’t need batteries. A qualified electrician must install them.
- In a large house or one that has several levels, you can install linked smoke alarms. If one of these alarms detects smoke, they’ll all go off together.
- Your local fire station may offer a free fire safety visit and may even offer to install smoke alarms in your home for free.
- For more fire safety information, please visit www.gov.uk/firekills
Safety In the kitchen
- If you need to leave the kitchen while cooking, take the pans off heat or turn the heat down.
- A build-up of fat and grease could ignite a fire so make sure your oven, hob and grill are all clean and in working order.
- Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob.
- If you have small children in your home, make sure pan handles are not within reach.
- If a pan does catch fire, don’t throw water over it.
- Turn off the heat if it’s safe to do so.
- Call the fire brigade on 999.
Electrical fires
- Faulty electrical appliances can start fires.
- Any electrical appliance you use should have a British or European safety mark on it.
- Make sure this mark is on the appliance when you buy it.
- Check that you are using the right fuses on appliances.
- Using the wrong fuse could cause overheating.
- If you use extension leads or adapters, make sure you don’t overload them.
- Take note of the amp limit on any adapters used.
- Unplug electric blankets before going to bed.
- Store electric blankets flat, rolled up, or loosely folded to prevent damage to the wiring.
Plan an escape route
- Should you ever need to evacuate your home, plan a safe escape route.
- Make sure your family know the safest way to get out of the house in the event of a fire.
- Make sure everyone knows where the keys are if doors or windows are locked.
- Never re-enter a building that’s on fire.
- Call the fire brigade on 999.
Furniture tips
- Keep glass objects like bottles and vases away from direct sunlight, such as on a window sill.
- Keep all forms of mirrors out of direct sunlight (they can reflect light onto curtains, clothing, paper or furniture and causes fires).
Log Burners
- Log burners should be professionally installed.
- Keep your log burner at the minimum distance from combustible materials as per the manufacturer's guide.
- You should install a carbon monoxide detector, as well as a smoke detector.
- Service your log burner annually according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Get your chimney swept regularly, this will remove soot, blockages and built-up creosote.
- Check the manufacturers guide for what fuel is suitable to use – hardwoods, such as beech, ash, hickory or oak are the best fuel for a wood burning stove. Multi-fuel stoves can also use coal as fuel.
- Store wood in a cool and dry location, ideally indoors. If kept outdoors, keep it in a shed or cover it with a tarp to protect it from moisture. Dry wood for at least one year to make sure it is well seasoned.
- Do not use treated wood because it can produce harmful gas emissions, which may affect your health.
- Make sure any external ventilation drills are not blocked.
- Wait until ash is cold before removing it. Ashes are an extremely insulating material and can contain glowing pieces long after the log burner is put out.
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