Community Safety Partnership

Fire Safety in the Home

Each year in the UK over 550 people die & over 10,000 are injured because of fires.

Two thirds of these people are in their own home when this happens! The most common causes of these fires are chip pans, or smokers' materials setting fire to the upholstery, such as chairs and sofas. Even if you don't smoke or use a chip pan you could still be at risk. You can help save your own life and the lives of your family. Be prepared in case a fire starts in your home by following some basic rules.

Make sure you have a working smoke alarm
Smoke Alarms only work if they are properly cared for. Test your smoke alarm monthly. Change the battery annually. If your smoke alarm sounds while you are cooking etc, consider moving it to a less vulnerable area, but NEVER disconnect the battery, even for a short period. Vacuum vent grilles often - dirt can easily block them and prevent smoke from reaching the sensor.

Make a Fire Action Plan
Identify your escape route now. Try to identify 2 separate escape routes from each part of your home. Choose a safe place outside where the household can meet after escaping from the fire. Ensure everyone knows the escape plan and meeting place. The meeting place should be in a safe area, away from the fire!

Telephone
Identify a telephone that can be used to call the fire brigade. If anyone is missing, tell fire-fighters as soon as they arrive. Everyone should practise the escape plan just in case!

Bedtime Routine
Because many fires in the home happen at night, it is important that you have a bedtime routine. Make a special check of all the danger spots mentioned on this page before you go to bed. And remember, if you don’t have a smoke alarm there will be nothing to wake you up if a fire does occur!

Cooking accounts for around one third of all house fires in Britain. Fires which could easily be avoided.

Oil and Fat Pan Fires
The most common type of fire involves deep fat frying. Cooking oil is ideal fuel for a fire. If left unattended whilst heating up will catch fire in a few minute.

Use a thermostat controlled deep fat fryer!
A thermostat controlled deep fat fryer is much safer to use as it is fitted with a safety cut out device which controls the temperature of the oil or fat and does not allow overheating.

If you must use a deep fat frying pan on a cooker:

Never fill it more than one third full
Never leave unattended with the heat on
Make sure the handle is positioned safely to avoid young children pulling the pot of hot fat or oil over themselves
Never cook with oil or fat if you have been drinking alcohol

If your oil or fat pan catches fire:

Do Not move the pan
If it is safe to do so, turn off the heat then place a damp tea towel over the pan to smother the flames
Never throw water onto the fire
Leave the pan to cool down for 30 minutes
If you cannot control the fire yourself, leave the room, close the door and telephone the fire brigade by dialling 999

General Cooking Safety Advice:

Never leave frying or grill pans unattended when in use
Always clean grill pans after cooking fatty foods
Position pot handles safely to avoid accidents with children
Do not dry tea towels etc on or near cookers
Do not trail electrical flexes near cookers
Do not place anything metallic inside microwave ovens

Careless use of Smoking Materials
A cigar, cigarette or pipe left burning on the edge of an ashtray can easily fall onto or into furniture, newspapers or fabrics and smoulder unseen for a considerable time before starting a serious fire.

Check to make sure that smoking materials are never left to burn unattended. Make sure that they are properly stubbed out in a suitable ashtray before leaving the room and disposed of safely in a suitable container before retiring to bed.

Check that people never smoke in bed or in an armchair when feeling drowsy. This is especially important if someone is under the influence of alcohol or drugs (prescribed or otherwise). A large proportion of fatal fire victims are known to have been drinking prior to their death.

Fires are also often caused by children playing with matches and lighters left lying around the house. These fires cause many of the child fatalities each year please check that they are not left lying around.

Electrical appliances
Switch off and unplug appliances which are not designed to be left on when not in use, e.g. a kettle. Check appliance manufacturer's handbook for details. Never run cables under carpets, and never repair or rejoin cables using insulating tape - always replace the entire cable. Always use the correct fuse - it is a safety device designed to stop faulty appliances overheating. If the wrong fuse is used and a fault develops then a fire may be the result. Always try to use one plug in one socket, never use more than one adaptor per socket. Never connect appliances to the adaptor where the total fuse rating is over 13 amps.

Portable Heaters
Always keep portable heaters away from furniture and furnishings. Make sure that no objects can fall onto them and that they cannot be knocked over.

Open Fires
Always put a fire guard around an open fire. Never place clothes on the guard to dry, or put newspapers on the guard as they will catch fire or get too hot to handle and could cause burns.

Children
Children, because of their natural curiosity, can be at a great risk from fire. Keep matches and lighters well out of their reach. Never leave children alone in a room where there are portable heaters, cookers or an open fire.

More Information
There are a number of fire safety leaflets available from the Fire Brigade. Contact the Community Fire Safety Section on 01698 338238

For more information on fire safety at home and at work visit:

Strathclyde Fire & Rescue's Home Safety Advice Line Number is:

0800 0731 999

This FREEPHONE number is available for home safety advice at all times (including during any industrial action).