Top tips for home fire safety

Top tips for home fire safety

House fires are rare, with government statistics showing the fire service was called out to 25,591 incidents in England in 2023/24, a 20% drop over the past 10 years. But as the consequences of even a small fire can be devastating, adopting a few simple safety tips can greatly reduce your risk.

Home fire safety

Fire detection systems, which include smoke and heat alarms, are an effective early warning of a fire in your home. For maximum protection, put an alarm in every room where a fire could start and test them regularly to make sure they are working.

You may want to use a heat alarm in the kitchen rather than a smoke alarm. These monitor the temperature in the kitchen and won’t go off every time you cook food or burn your toast.

Electrical items also require special attention, as these are one of the top cause of fires in the home. Avoid overloading plug sockets and extension leads, and don’t leave phones and other tech to charge overnight.

Kitchen fire tips

Many house fires start in the kitchen so it warrants some extra fire safety attention. Make sure there isn’t anything combustible near your cooker like tea towels, electrical leads or clothing. Keeping your oven and hob clean can also reduce the risk of a fire.

If you’re cooking and need to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat under any pans. Deep fat frying can be particularly hazardous, so be careful not to overfill a pan with oil. If it does ignite, turn off the heat and use a suitable fire extinguisher or call the fire service.

Bedtime fire safety

A simple bedtime fire safety routine can help to keep you and your family safe while sleeping. Before you head to bed, check that everything is switched off and unplugged if it can be, as well as blowing out any candles.

As a precaution, avoid leaving your washing machine or dishwasher on overnight. Closing internal doors will also slow the spread of a fire.

Fire escape plan

It’s sensible to have a fire escape plan in place. This is exactly like the drill you may have done at work or school and needs to outline how everyone would leave the house if there was a fire. It’s a great way to determine whether there are any potential issues, such as locked doors or windows, that might slow your escape.

Rehearse it too, as this will ensure it’s effective and everyone is ready if they are woken up in the middle of the night to the sound of your smoke alarms.

A few simple fire safety tips can help to reduce your risk and keep you and your family safe. Your local fire service are also on hand, with many providing advice and home visits.

Co-op Insurance can also help you protect your home. Visit our home insurance page to find out more and get a quote.