Fire safety

Fires caused by smoking (including cigarettes, roll-ups, cigars and pipe tobacco) result in more deaths each year than any other type of fire.

• It is safer to smoke outside but if you are inside make sure cigarettes are totally extinguished and disposed of properly
• Never smoke in bed
• Don’t smoke in an armchair or sofa if you think you may fall asleep
• Take extra care when you’re tired, taking prescription drugs or if you’ve been drinking alcohol
• Use proper ashtrays which can’t tip over and stub cigarettes out properly
• Never balance cigars or cigarettes on the edge of an ashtray or anything else; they can fall and cause a fire
• Don’t leave lit pipes or cigarettes unattended
• Empty ashtrays carefully – make sure smoking materials are out, cold and preferably wet them before throwing into a bin. Never use a wastepaper basket
• Keep matches and lighters out the reach of children and buy child-resistant lighters.

Nuisance wheelie bin and rubbish fires are a problem in some neighbourhoods, typically causing damage of up to £1650, including damage to buildings, cleaning up and the cost of replacement.

To keep your wheelie bin safe:

• Don’t put out your bin until it is due for collection
• Don’t overfill your bin or leave loose waste around it
• Don’t store your bin in close proximity to a building
• Make sure the bins and any additional waste don’t block fire escape routes
• Don’t store waste by windows or doors
• Do kindly offer to help your neighbours if they are unable to bring in their wheelie bin after collection.

Many fire deaths happen at night when most people are sleeping. Further reduce the risk of fire by carrying out some simple checks before you go to bed.

• Close your doors, this can help to stop flames and smoke from spreading to other rooms, giving you and your family more time to escape
• Turn off and unplug electrical appliances unless they are designed to be left on – like your fridge or freezer
• Don’t leave the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher switched on
• Don’t leave devices such as mobile phones, tablets or e-cigarettes charging overnight
• Check your cooker is turned off
• Turn heaters off, rake out fires and put a fire guard in place
• Put candles, incense sticks and oil burners out and never leave them burning when you are asleep.

• Make sure you put out any candles, incense and oil burners when you leave the room and especially before bed
• Candles should always be held firmly in heat resistant holders and placed on a stable surface
• Keep candles away from materials that may catch fire such as curtains, furniture, clothes
• Tea lights get very hot and without proper holders can melt through plastic surfaces like a TV or bath
• To avoid accidents, keep candles and other naked flames out of reach of children and pets.

Watch this quick video by North Yorkshires Fire & Rescue rescue about candle safety.

More fires and fire injuries are caused by carelessness in the kitchen than anywhere else in the home.

• Avoid leaving cooking unattended
• If you have to leave the kitchen whilst cooking, it’s safer to take pans off the heat and turn off the hob and/or grill
• Don’t cook if you are tired, have been drinking alcohol or taking medication that might make you drowsy
• Loose clothing can easily catch fire – take care not to lean over a hot hob and keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob
• Keep the oven, hob, cooker hood and grill clean, and in good working order
• A build-up of fat and grease can ignite and cause a fire
• Use spark devices to light gas cookers
• Double check the cooker and hob are turned off when you’ve finished cooking
• Check toasters are clean and not placed under kitchen cabinets or close to anything that can catch fire.

• Don’t tackle the fire yourself and don’t attempt to move the pan
• Turn off the heat if it is safe to do so
• Never throw water over a fire as it could create a fireball
• Leave the room, close the door, shout a warning to others and call the fire brigade by dialling 999.

• Take extra care when cooking with hot oil as it can easily overheat and catch fire
• Never fill a pan more than one third full of fat or oil
• Make sure food is dry before putting it in hot oil
• If the oil starts to smoke, it’s too hot. Turn off the heat and leave it to cool
• Use an electronic deep fat fryer if possible as they have automatic temperature controls.

• Never use a barbecue (including disposable ones) indoors or on a balcony
• Position your barbecue on level ground and keep it well away from anything that may catch fire (sheds, fences, trees, tents etc.)
• Never use petrol, paraffin or bio fuel to get the barbecue going or revive it
• Never take a barbecue into a tent, awning, caravan or motor-home. Even when cooling it will give off poisonous carbon monoxide fumes which can kill.