The Biggest Fire Risks in The Home

The most common causes of house fires include cooking accidents, electrical malfunctions, and careless use of smoking materials or candles. 

 Learn how to reduce the risks in your home and lower the chances of having a fire. 

1. Cooking

 More than half of the house fires we attend start in the kitchen but there are ways of reducing the risk by following our advice:  

  •  CLEAR – Keep tea towels, cloths and electrical leads away from the oven and hob.  
  •  OVEN – Switch off the oven and hob when you’ve finished cooking and remove pans from the heat.  
  •  OIL – A build-up of cooking oil/grease can increase the risk of cooking fires so clean regularly.  
  •  KEEP – Keep looking when cooking. 

 Read more about cooking safety. 

2. Electrical

We attend around 340 fires each year which start from an electrical issue, such as a wiring, cables, or plugs.  Follow our advice to help minimise the risk of an electrical fire in your home. 

  • Turn off electrical appliances when not in use especially before bed or leaving the house (apart from fridges and freezers designed to be left on). 
  • Don’t overload sockets, keep to one plug per socket  
  • Check old cables and leads and NEVER place cables under carpets  

 Read more about electrical safety. 

3. Smoking

If you smoke, you are at a higher risk of having a fire in the home. Smoking is the biggest cause of fatal fires.  

  •  The best way to reduce your risk of fire is to smoke outside. 
  •  Make sure cigarettes are properly extinguished when you have finished smoking 
  •  Never smoke in bed. There are so many things that can catch fire in a bedroom – it’s just not worth the risk. 

Read more safety advice for smokers. 

4. Candles

Each year, we respond to over 40 fires started by candles. These fires can spread quickly causing serious damage to homes and putting lives at risk. 

The safest choice is to skip real candles altogether and go for battery-powered LED alternatives. They give the same cosy glow without the fire risk. 

But if you do choose to light a candle, here are some simple tips to help keep you, your family, and your home safe: 

  •  Make sure candles are secured in a stable candle holder 
  • Keep candles away from anything that may catch fire like curtains or loose-fitting clothes  
  • Always put candles, incense sticks and oil burners out when leaving the room  
  • Never leave children or pets in reach of burning candles  

 Read more about candle safety. 

Candles
Smoke Alarms Save Lives

A smoke alarm is the easiest way to alert you to the first signs of a fire, giving you precious time to escape. They are cheap, easy to get hold of and easy to fit. 

You should have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home. 

 Read more about smoke alarms

What to Do if There's a Fire
  1. Get out of the building, closing any doors behind you. 
  1. Stay out of the building. 
  1. Call 999 and ask for the fire service. 

Sign up to receive our latest information to your email

Employer Recognition Scheme - Silver Award Banner