Be safe.
Fire prevention.
Every year, fires in homes across England lead to many deaths and thousands of injuries. These fires are often preventable. You can prevent fires by understanding the risks and taking simple precautions to protect you and your home.
Fire prevention in your home
Take time to look around your home and identify potential fire hazards:
- are there clothes, papers or other items too close to heaters or the cooker?
- is your cooker off and free of any flammable materials?
- do you have overloaded extension leads or adaptors?
- are there frayed or damaged electrical cables?
- are candles and cigarettes put out properly?
Regular checks can save lives. Fire kills when we ignore the warning signs – taking just a few minutes to assess your home could prevent a tragedy. when we ignore the warning signs – taking just a few minutes to assess your home could prevent a tragedy.
Free online home fire safety check
For fire safety advice specific to you and your home, you can complete an online home fire safety check. After answering a few questions about you and your home, it will provide fire safety advice and tips on how to keep you and your household safe from fire. The tool can be also completed on behalf of someone you care for or are worried about.
Take a free online home fire safety check
Fire Safety in Rented Accommodation
Find out what you and your landlord should do to prevent fires in your home.
What your landlord must do
The law requires landlords to ensure:
- there are smoke alarms on every storey of their homes and check they are working at the beginning of each new tenancy.
- there are carbon monoxide alarms in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers) and check they are working at the start of the tenancy.
- alarms are repaired or replaced once informed and found that they are faulty.
In privately rented accommodation, landlords have to meet certain safety obligations under the law.
- Ensure furnishings are fire resistant and meet safety regulations.
- Make sure any appliances and furniture they have provided are kept in a safe condition.
- Arrange an annual gas safety check by a Gas Safe engineer (where there are any gas appliances).
- Arrange a test of the electrical installations in the property by a qualified person every five years.
- Obtain a report (usually an Electrical Installation Condition Report – EICR) from the person conducting the inspection and test.
- Social landlords must ensure electrical equipment they have provided is checked, and an In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (ISIT) record is obtained, at least every five years.
- Ensure there are adequate escape routes from the property.
- Ensure the property is free from dangerous fire hazards.
What should you do?
Landlords must provide smoke alarms but you, the tenant, are personally responsible for making sure they continue to work after the initial test.
You should:
test your smoke alarms at least once every month
- check if any of the smoke alarms have one-year batteries and if they do, change them every year
- only take the batteries out when you need to replace them
The exception is certain houses that have at least 3 unrelated tenants (called houses in multiple occupation) where the responsibility stays with the landlord. Ask your landlord if this applies to you or you can find out what qualifies as a house in multiple occupation on the GOV.UK website.
For advice specific to you and your home, complete your own free home fire safety check.
Common causes of fire
Cooking is the leading cause of fires in the home, responsible for around half of all accidental dwelling fires. Fires can start when you’re distracted, when cooking is left unattended, or when flammable items are too close to the hob or oven or to a heater.
Electrical faults and faulty appliances cause a significant number of fires. Overloaded sockets, damaged cables, and older appliances can all pose serious risks.
Smoking materials remain the most common cause of fire deaths in the home. Falling asleep whilst smoking or improper disposal of cigarettes and other smoking materials can lead to devastating fires. Fire kills – and smoking-related fires are particularly deadly because they often start when people are asleep or where they are very close by when a fire starts.
Candles and heaters cause hundreds of fires each year, particularly when left unattended or placed too close to curtains, furniture or other flammable materials.
How to prevent fires
In the kitchen
- never leave cooking unattended, especially when using oil or high temperatures
- keep tea towels, cloths and packaging away from the hob and oven
- clean your cooker, grill and oven regularly to prevent fat and grease build-up
- check your cooker is off before going to bed or leaving your home
Electrical safety
- don’t overload sockets – use one plug per socket
- check cables and leads regularly for damage
- replace any damaged or worn electrical items
- switch off and unplug appliances when you’re not using them
- never cover lights or electrical equipment with material
- have your electrics checked by a qualified electrician if you live in an older property
If you smoke
- always use a proper ashtray that can’t tip over
- stub cigarettes out completely and dispose of them carefully– put it out, right out
- never smoke in bed or when you’re tired
- the best way to reduce the risk is to make an attempt to quit, using NHS support if you need it.
- take extra care if you’ve been drinking alcohol – your reactions are slower and you’re more likely to fall asleep
Safe use of candles
- place candles in sturdy holders on a level surface
- keep candles away from curtains, furniture and draughts
- never leave lit candles unattended
- extinguish candles fully before going to bed
- consider using LED alternatives
Heating safely
- keep portable heaters away from curtains and furniture
- never dry clothes on or near heaters
- have your boiler serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer
- install a carbon monoxide alarm near gas appliances
Carers
Some older or vulnerable people may be more at risk from fires in their home. As a carer, friend or family member, there are certain things you can do to help keep them safe.
Who is at risk?
Older people or those with disabilities are often more likely to need help in staying safe. However, you should be aware of anyone who may:
- find it hard to quickly escape from their home in a fire
- find it hard to fit and test smoke alarms
- feel confused by an alarm, such as dementia sufferers
- smoke – this is the largest cause of fatal fires
- be less likely to spot fire safety warning signs, such as scorch marks around plug sockets
- be hoarding, as fires can spread fast in very cluttered spaces, which may also prevent a quick escape
- be more likely to forget to put out things like candles, turn off ovens or leave cooking unattended
- use medical equipment that may pose a fire risk (for example, oxygen, emollient cream and incontinence pads)
What to do?
These are some things you can do to help someone you are worried about:
- Make sure they have a smoke alarm in the room where they spend most of their time and at least one on every level of their home. Test they are working at least monthly. Specialist strobe lights and vibrating pad alarms are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Contact the RNID Information Line on 0808 808 0123 or textphone 0808 808 9000.
- Look out for these warning signs:
- cooking or lit candles left unattended
- full ashtrays or cigarettes that have been carelessly thrown away
- burn marks on clothing, bedding, carpets or furniture
- hoarding
- Make sure telecare systems are always linked to smoke alarms – talk to the telecare provider if you are not sure how to do this.
- Encourage them to read our tips on how to protect your home from fire. There are leaflets you can print for them if they are less comfortable accessing information online.
- Help them complete a free online home fire safety check. Where this check identifies someone as being at higher risk from fire, this tool will provide an opportunity to refer them to their local fire and rescue service for a visit.
If you are really worried about someone and you are not sure what to do, or are concerned about the person’s abi
Support for those more at risk
Some people face greater risks from fire. If you or someone you know may be particularly vulnerable to fire due to age, mobility or mental health, extra precautions and support are available.
Your local fire and rescue service may offer a free home fire safety visit. During a visit, firefighters will:
- identify fire risks in your home
- provide tailored fire safety advice
- fit smoke alarms free of charge if needed
- create a fire escape plan with you
To arrange a free visit, contact your local fire and rescue service.
Alternatively, you can complete a free online home fire safety check.
Frequently asked questions
How can I prevent cooking fires?
Stay in the kitchen when you’re cooking and never leave pans unattended, especially when frying or using high heat. Keep the hob and oven clean to prevent grease build-up, and ensure tea towels, oven gloves and food packaging are kept well away from heat sources.
If you need to leave the kitchen, turn off the hob. Avoid cooking if you’re tired or have been drinking alcohol, as this significantly increases your fire risk. Consider switching to oven chips instead of using a chip pan or deep fat fryer.
How do I know that an electrical appliance might be dangerous?
Warning signs include scorch marks on plugs or sockets, fuses that blow repeatedly, flickering lights, burning smells, or sparks from outlets or appliances. Frayed or damaged cables, cracked plug casings, and appliances that feel unusually hot are also danger signs.
If you spot any of these, stop using the appliance immediately, unplug it and have it checked by a qualified professional or replace it. Don’t ignore these signs – fire kills, and electrical fires can develop quickly.
You can search the Government’s list of product safety alert , reports and recalls. And make sure you register your appliances so that you can be notified if your product is recalled.
How can I make smoking safer in my home?
The safest option is to make an attempt to quit. If you continue to smoke, you should do so outside. If you do smoke indoors, never smoke in bed, when you’re drowsy, or after drinking alcohol. Always use a proper, sturdy ashtray that won’t tip over – never use wastepaper bins. Stub cigarettes out properly and check they’re completely extinguished before disposing of them. Keep matches and lighters away from children.
Consider switching to vaping products, which don’t carry the same fire risk as traditional cigarettes. If you’re a smoker, particularly if you live alone or have mobility issues, a free home fire safety visit from your local fire and rescue service can provide personalised advice.
Are multi-socket adapters and extension leads safe to use?
They can be used safely if you follow basic precautions:
- Never overload them – check the current rating (usually 13 amps) and make sure the total power drawn by all plugged-in appliances doesn’t exceed this limit.
- Don’t plug one extension lead into another (daisy-chaining).
- Keep extension leads in good condition, fully uncoil them before use to prevent overheating, and replace any that show signs of damage such as exposed wires or scorch marks.
- Position leads where they won’t be damaged by furniture or create a trip hazard.
- When possible, use one plug per socket rather than adaptors.
How often should I have electrical installations and gas appliances checked?
Have your home’s electrical installation inspected by a qualified electrician at least every 10 years, or every 5 years if you rent your home. Gas appliances should be serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer – this is a legal requirement for landlords.
Never attempt DIY repairs on gas appliances or electrical installations. Regular servicing can identify potential problems before they become dangerous, preventing fires and carbon monoxide incidents. Keep records of all inspections and services.
In the event of a fire, get out, stay out and call 999.
For advice specific to you and your home, complete your own home fire safety check.