Fire safety in the home

Use this guide to assess fire safety in your home and take simple, inexpensive precautions that could save lives. It’s worth investigating every room of your house specifically to check for fire risks.

Plan in advance

Smoke alarms

A smoke alarm is the simplest single step you can take to cut the risk of dying from fire in your home. They are available in supermarkets and high street shops. If your home covers more than one floor, you should fit at least one smoke alarm on each floor. You should:

fit smoke alarms on each level in your home on the ceiling and in hallways and landings
keep them free from dust and test them once a week
consider buying a 10 year alarm; otherwise, change the batteries in your alarms every year

Some local Fire and Rescue Services install smoke alarms free of charge. You can contact yours to see if they run such a scheme.

Be careful with fire hazards

There are several fire hazards likely to be in your home that you may not immediately think of, but which you should consider.

Danger points to consider:

is your upholstered furniture fire-resistant? If it was made before 1988, it won't be, meaning it can catch light easily and will produce clouds of poisonous smoke
take extra care in the kitchen (especially when cooking with hot oil) - accidents while cooking account for over half of all fires in the home
keep your cooker clear of flammable objects, such as cloths, oven gloves and curtains
never leave young children alone in the kitchen
make sure your toaster is cleaned out from time to time (as bread caught inside can catch fire) and that it's away from your curtains
never leave lit candles in rooms that nobody is in, or where children are on their own
make sure candles are in secure holders on a surface that doesn't burn and are away from any materials that could burn
make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly and thrown away carefully - and never smoke in bed
if you have an electric blanket, make sure it isn't damaged - fraying, scorch marks and loose connections are all dangerous

Flammables

Don't keep flammable materials like solvents (such as some glues and aerosols) or paraffin in direct sunlight or near any other heat source (like a radiator or heater). If you're using something flammable, make sure the room you're in is well ventilated and don't light any sort of flame nearby.

Gas fires and carbon monoxide poisoning

You can't see, taste, or smell it, but carbon monoxide (CO) can kill without warning in a matter of hours. You should ensure that your gas appliances and flues have been properly installed, and are kept well-maintained and properly ventilated. The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) publishes a leaflet about gas safety.

Plan your escape

You should talk to everyone in your home about how you will get out if there is a fire. Make an escape plan for your house and put a reminder of what to do somewhere it's easily and regularly seen - on the fridge door, for example. Follow the link below for information on how to make a plan for your house.

Planning an escape

Keep exits clear

make it a habit to keep the exits from your home clear, so that people can escape if there's a fire
make sure that everyone in your home can easily find the keys for doors and windows - always keep them in the same place
Arrange for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) complete a free home fire safety check - NIFRS website

Develop good habits

If you make fire safety checks regularly, they will soon become habits and reduce the fire risks around your home. Follow the link below for a list of quick tips and bedtime checks you should complete. You can also download a fire safety in the home leaflet by following the link below.