Fire safety in the home
By taking these simple and inexpensive steps from our experts here at British Gas, you can protect your home and family against the threat of fire.
Fire safety and electrical products
Too many electrical appliances plugged into a single socket can lead to overheating. Always use only one appliance per socket, and make sure you replace old or poorly wired appliances and cables.
If an appliance is left plugged in, because they often contain transformers, it usually still has electricity flowing through it – even if it is switched off. If a fault develops, the transformer could overheat and start a fire.
Be sure to always switch off power points, and unplug any electrical appliances from the socket. Standby Savers are a great way to improve the safety of your home and lower your energy bills. These could also help you maintain cheap gas and electricity bills by limiting your energy consumption levels.
Have a smoke alarm fitted
Smoke alarms are a cheap and simple solution, and will provide a few vital minutes of warning in the event of a fire. Smoke alarms should be fitted on every level of a house. Check them regularly to ensure that they are functioning properly, and operating loudly enough to wake you and alert you to the presence of a fire.
If you’re unsure whether your smoke alarm is correctly installed or functioning properly, most fire and rescue services in England offer free home fire risk checks.
Fire safety in the kitchen
The kitchen can be a place where accidental fires occur so safe cooking practice is essential for a fire safe home. Common problem areas include cooking with hot oil or leaving hot pans or pots unsupervised, so always be extra vigilant here.
Always be careful to avoid lighting candles near flammable items such as curtains and fabrics. Make sure candles are properly secured in a stable holder and never leave a burning flame unattended.
What to do in the event of a fire
In the event of a fire, it’s important that you act accordingly in order to remain safe. Always follow these tips on general fire safety and make sure you know what to do:
- Never attempt to tackle a fire yourself. Instead, remove yourself from the building and call the emergency services immediately.
- Never enter a burning building for any reason. This will only put your safety, and the safety of others, at greater risk.
- Make sure that you and your family have a planned fire escape route for your home. This will help make any evacuation easy to manage, reducing the chance of injury.