Ensuring fire safety is crucial for protecting lives and property. We’ve put together ten essential tips to help prevent fire hazards in your home.
In addition to these tips, we want to emphasise how important it is to always keep entry points to your building secure, free from obstructions and to never prop fire doors open.
It’s also essential to ensure smoke detectors are regularly checked, at least once a month, to ensure they are working correctly.
Here are our top ten tips for fire safety:
1. Avoid Barbecues and Open Fires on Balconies
Never have a barbecue or open fire on your balcony. Embers could carry and set light to your or your neighbour’s balcony and possessions.
2. Keep Your Balcony Clear of Combustibles
If you have a balcony, ensure it is free of any combustible items. Avoid fixing fairy lights, storing or setting off fireworks, or adding timber, combustible screening, or flooring, including artificial grass.
3. Do Not Use Camping Stoves Indoors or on Your Balcony
Do not use camping stoves indoors or on your balcony as they pose significant fire risks.
4. Place Candles Safely
Keep candles well away from curtains and upholstery. Never leave a lit candle unattended to prevent accidental fires.
5. Properly Extinguish Cigarettes
Fires started by smoking result in more deaths than any other source of fire. Always ensure your cigarette is properly extinguished. Never throw a cigarette over the side of your balcony as it could ignite possessions on a balcony or floor below.
6. Dry Clothing Safely
Do not dry clothing in front of or on portable heaters. When using a tumble dryer:
- Don’t leave dryers unattended when in use.
- Don’t use dryers overnight or when you’re in bed.
- Only put clothing in the dryer.
- Regularly clean filters and remove lint build-up.
- Don’t overload dryers.
7. Never Leave Pans Unattended While Cooking
Never leave pans on the hob unattended. If a pan catches fire:
- Don’t tackle the fire yourself or move the pan.
- Turn off the heat if it is safe to do so.
- Never throw water over a fire.
- Leave the room, close the door, and call 999.
8. Avoid Overloading Electrical Sockets
Do not overload electrical sockets. Try to keep to one plug per socket. Unplug appliances when not in use or when you go to bed.
9. Use Electrical Appliances Safely
Always switch off electric hairdryers, straighteners, or other appliances after use. Rechargeable batteries can present a fire risk when overcharged; do not leave them on charge after the cycle has completed.
Only use the charger that came with your device or a genuine replacement, as cheap chargers may fail to meet UK safety regulations and cause fires.
10. Keep Escape Routes Clear
Communal areas and staircases must be kept free of anything that may block escape routes, such as bicycles, prams, or rubbish.
Familiarise yourself with your escape route. Count the number of doors you need to go through until you reach the outside; it can be easy to get confused if it is dark or smoky.
Bonus Tip: Dispose of Rubbish Safely
Rubbish is a ready source of fuel for an arsonist. Fires involving rubbish can quickly spread to nearby homes and buildings, putting lives at risk.
Never store rubbish or anything that can catch alight in corridors, stairwells, near escape routes, or close to your property.
By following these fire safety tips, you can help prevent fires and ensure a safe living and working environment for yourself and those around you.
Stay vigilant and always prioritise safety in your daily routines.
For more information or to report any concerns, please contact BNS.
