Fire safety at home

A few small habits can make a big difference if there's ever a fire. Here's the official advice in brief. For your alarms and how to test them, see our guide to smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Plan your way out

• Your best escape route is usually the normal way in and out. Think of a second one in case it's blocked.
• Keep doors, hallways and windows clear of clutter, furniture and belongings.
• Keep door and window keys somewhere everyone can find them, near the exit they fit.
• Agree a meeting point outside and practise the plan with everyone, especially children.
• Close inside doors at night to help stop a fire spreading.

Cooking and charging

• Around half of home fires start with cooking. Don't leave cooking unattended, especially with oil or at high heat, and double check the cooker is off when you've finished.
• If a pan catches fire, turn off the heat only if it's safe to, never throw water over it, and don't tackle it yourself.
• Keep to one plug per socket where you can. If you notice scorch marks, hot plugs or sockets, or fuses that keep blowing, tell us.
• E-bikes and e-scooters: charge them while you're awake and at home, never in a bedroom or where they could block your way out, such as the hall. Unplug once charged, and only use chargers and batteries the manufacturer recommends. Stop using a battery that gets very hot, swells, smells odd or smokes.

If there's a fire

• Get everyone out without stopping for belongings, close doors behind you, and call 999 once you're outside. Never go back in.
• Feel a door with the back of your hand before opening it. If it's warm, keep it shut.
• If smoke is in the way, crawl low where the air is clearer.
• If you can't get out, go into a room with a window, put bedding along the bottom of the door, call 999, then open the window and shout "HELP FIRE".

A free home fire safety check

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and London Fire Brigade each offer an online home fire safety check. Depending on your answers, they may arrange a free visit to your home. It's especially worthwhile if anyone at home may be more at risk because of age, mobility or mental health.

Find out more

• Fire safety in the home (GOV.UK)
• Plan your escape (Fire Kills, GOV.UK)
• Safely charging e-bikes and e-scooters (Fire Kills, GOV.UK)
• Buy safe, be safe: avoid e-bike and e-scooter fires (GOV.UK)
• Home fire safety check (Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service)
• Home safety visits (Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service)
• Home Fire Safety Checker (London Fire Brigade)
• Find your local fire and rescue service (Fire England)