Fire Safety Tips at Home

Fire can be dangerous, which is why a lot of people say don’t play with fire. A spark can even happen in your own home. From pouring water over live wire to overheated appliances, there’s always a risk. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that your home is safe with these fire safety tips.

Cook safely

One tip you should take mental note of is cooking safely and making sure you’re extra careful. If you have a gas hob, leaving tea towels near the flame when you’re cooking can definitely cause a fire. This is why leaving your pans unattended is never a good idea. Keep your eyes on whatever you’re cooking and don’t cook when you’re tired, under the influence of alcohol or taking medication with drowsy side effects.

Keep electrical appliances away from water

Water and electricity is a deadly combination you want to avoid. It’s easy to leave beverages near a live extension lead or a socket, but this is a recipe for disaster. Place any drinks away from electrical sources or place anything electrical, such as extension leads, away from surfaces you plan to use. You should also make sure that spills are wiped straight away.

Always smoke outside

If you smoke and you have no plans of quitting, make sure you always smoke outside and put any cigarettes out completely. Any lit cigarettes and pipes should also never be left unattended. For any ash, use proper ash trays but never throw hot ash into your bin. If you have children, it’s important to keep matches and lighters out of their reach.

Don’t overload your sockets

Overloading your sockets can cause an electrical fire and even an explosion. So, make sure you don’t overload any live sockets. If you’re using a fused in-line adaptor, it’s important to know the limits. It’s also important not to leave any appliances on continuous charge. Essential appliances such as your fridge and freezer should be the only appliances left on. For more ways to be safe with your electrical appliances, have a read through these Electrical Safety Tips for Your Home.

Keep candles secure

A lot of people love scented candles due to their sweet aroma. It’s all good and dandy for your home to smell nice and look aesthetic, but it’s all chaos if it causes a fire. Make sure any candles, tea lights and incense are placed in stable and heat-resistant holders. They should also be placed away from flammable materials such as furniture, curtains and clothes.

Don’t use a heater to dry your clothes

You might see a warning saying not to hang clothes on a heater and it’s crucial that this is followed, especially if you don’t want anything to catch alight. Instead of using a heater to dry your clothes, consider investing in a heated airer.

Make sure there’s a fire blanket available

Investing in a fire blanket is handy if a fire does break out in your home. This is a safety device designed to extinguish fires; it comes with a sheet that you place over a fire to smother the flame. By investing in one, you lessen the chances of fire spreading, causing damage and injuring yourself.

If you don’t know how to use a fire blanket, our article on How to Use a Fire Blanket might be a helpful read.

Make sure your smoke detector is working

Sometimes, a fire can happen without us knowing. This is where a working smoke detector comes in. By blaring out an alarm, it warns you whenever smoke is detected. So, make sure to check yours is working. Contact a professional immediately if you have a broken smoke detector.

If you’re in a commercial building and would like to know more about fire alarms, have a read through our article on How Do Fire Alarm Systems Work?

These are the fire safety tips to follow at home to make sure you and your family members are safe. For advice, help, or for any enquiries, feel free to get in touch with our fire system experts from our directory here. Alternatively, you can also contact our first aid professionals.

If you have an emergency, dial 999 immediately.

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