Fire safety at home

Two-fifths of home fires are started by cooking accidents. Stay safe by:

• not cooking if you have been drinking a lot of alcohol
• not leaving children in the kitchen alone when cooking and keeping matches and saucepan handles out of reach
• making sure saucepan handles don’t stick out so they don’t get knocked off the stove
• keeping loose clothing, tea towels and cloths away from flames – they can catch fire easily
• check toasters are clean and placed away from curtains and kitchen rolls
• keeping the oven, hob and grill clean and in good working order – a build up of fat and grease can start a fire
• taking care when cooking with hot oil – it sets alight easily
• making sure food is dry before putting it in hot oil so it doesn’t splash
• turning off the heat if oil starts to smoke – it’s too hot – and leaving it to cool

 What to do if a pan catches fire

• do not take any risks - turn off the heat if it is safe to do so
• never throw water on it
• never tackle the fire yourself – get out, stay out and call 999

Faulty electrics (appliances, wiring and overloaded sockets) cause around 3,700 fires in the home across the country every year.

Stay safe by:

• trying to keep to one plug per socket - if you are using an extension lead or adapter check how many amps it can take and be careful not to overload them
• keeping electrical appliances clean and in good working order to prevent them triggering a fire.
• looking out for signs of dangerous or loose wiring such as scorch marks, hot plugs and sockets, flickering lights, fuses that blow or circuit-breakers that trip for no obvious reasons
• checking and replacing any old cables and leads, especially if they are hidden from view such as behind furniture or under carpets or mats
• keeping electrics, including leads and appliances away from water – they make a lethal combination

Every day, about 2 fires are started by heaters. Stay safe by:

• securing heaters against a wall to stop them falling over, if possible
• keeping heaters away from curtains and furniture
• never using heaters to dry clothes
• making sure heaters are kept at least a metre away from materials that could easily catch fire, such as paper or curtains
• regularly inspecting your heater for damage – if it is damaged, don’t use it

 You can stop electric blankets from causing a fire by:

• storing electric blankets flat, rolled up or loosely folded to prevent damaging the internal wiring
• unplugging blankets before you get into bed, unless it says it is safe to use all night
• not buying second hand blankets and checking regularly for damage
• always following the manufacturer’s instruction

Every day, about 2 accidental fires are started by candles. Stay safe by:

• never leaving lit candles unattended - put them out completely when you leave the room and at night
• making sure candles are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire – like curtains
• not burning several candles close together

Every seven days someone dies from a fire caused by a cigarette. Stay safe by:

• stubbing cigarettes out properly and throwing them away carefully - put it out,  right out.
• never smoking in bed or anywhere you might fall asleep, such as in a comfortable chair.
• making sure your ashtray can’t tip over and is made of a material that won’t burn
• never throwing hot ashes into a bin as they can easily start a fire
• not leaving lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes lying around - they can easily fall over and start a fire
• keeping matches and lighters out of children’s reach