Skip to content Accesskeys Newsroom

Fire safety in the home

Follow these simple, inexpensive tips to prevent fires in your home. You can also get free advice from your local fire and rescue service, so if a fire does break out, you and others can get out quickly and safely.

Fit a smoke alarm and test it regularly

  • fit smoke alarms on each level of your home – it’s the simplest step you can take to cut the risk of dying as a result of a fire in your home
  • test the batteries in your smoke alarm every week and change them every year -never remove them apart from when replacing them
  • Find out more about smoke alarms

Take care when cooking

  • more than half of accidental fires in the home start because of something to do with cooking
  • take extra care when cooking with hot oil and don’t leave children alone in the kitchen when the hob or oven is on
  • Get more advice about cooking safely

Plan an escape route and make a bedtime check

  • plan a route to escape your home if there is a fire and make sure everyone in the house knows the plan
  • if there’s a fire, don’t tackle it yourself – get out, stay out and call 999
  • check for fire hazards in your home before you go to bed - it takes longer to become aware of a fire whenasleep
  • see ‘Planning an escape’ for more information about bedtime checks and making an escape plan
  • Planning a safe escape

Don't overload sockets

  • try to keep to one plug per socket - too many electrical appliances plugged into one socket can overload it, which can lead to overheating
  • electrical appliances, plugs and cables that are old or poorly wired can also be a real danger
  • Electric safety

Cigarettes – put them out, right out

  • more people die in fires caused by smoking products than in fires caused by anything else
  • always stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully
  • see ‘Smoking safety’ for tips to avoid causing a fire if you smoke
  • Smoking safety

Use candles carefully

  • candles, decorative lights and decorations are a growing cause of fires
  • make sure candles are secured in a stable holder and kept away from curtains, fabrics and paper
  • always putcandles out when you are leaving the room or going to bed

Fire safety during celebrations and holidays

In addition to the everyday care you should take in your home (read about this by following the link to ‘Fire safety in the home’ below), you should take extra precautions if you are hosting a party, or if you have friends or family staying in your home:

  • if you have guests staying the night, make sure they know how to escape safely
  • let guests know of any features they may not be familiar with - for example, how to unlock your front door
  • tell guests where the door keys are kept overnight
  • take particular care of elderly people, children and those with disabilities
  • if there are smokers, put out enough ashtrays, so ash and butts don't get dropped in places like wastepaper bins

Decorative lights, candles and decorations

Fairy lights and Christmas tree lights don’t get used very often, so you should ensure they’re in good working order before using them:

  • check that the fuse in the plug is the right size (see the box for the maximum size of fuse you should use)
  • replace bulbs that blow
  • don’t leave lights on when you go to bed or leave the house
  • don’t let the bulbs touch anything that can burn easily, such as paper or fabrics (be especially careful with other Christmas tree decorations)

Festive decorations made of tissue paper or cardboard burn particularly easily, so keep decorations and greeting cards away from heaters, lights, fireplaces and candles.

Candles and nightlights are often used in celebrations for Christmas and other festivals. They should never be put in or by a Christmas tree, plants, flowers or other foliage. You should also be careful that ribbons and other decorations aren’t near any candle flames. For more general tips on candle safety, follow the link below.

Ask for a home visit from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS)

More about fire safety in the home