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Fire Prevention

As they, say, "prevention is better than cure" and in the case of fire in the home this definitely applies. By taking a few simple precautions you can considerably reduce the chances of a fire starting in your home.

Protecting Your Home Against Fire - General Precautions

Unplug all electric appliances (especially television sets and heaters) when they are not in use. This is safer than just switching them off or into standby mode.
Before leaving the house or going to bed, close all doors and windows in empty rooms.
Provide deep ashtrays in all rooms where people are likely to smoke.
Keep candles, matches and cigarette lighters out of reach of children, preferably in a locked cupboard.
Don't use a candle or other naked flame for lighting, especially in a bedroom, workshop or attic.
Keep the hall and stairs clear of obstacles and fire hazards.
Keep the doors to common staircases closed.
Keep all furniture, curtains and bedding well away from open fires and heaters.
Never hang clothes to dry over gas, electric or paraffin heaters or open fires.
Make sure portable heaters are stable and kept where they will not be knocked over.
Don't use or store gasoline in the home.
Store all flammable liquids in strong, small, clearly labeled screw top containers away from sources of heat. Ideally, you should store flammable chemicals and paints in an outbuilding away from the house.
Keep butane gas lighter fuel and aerosol cans away from heat. Don't burn or puncture empty containers (don't throw them into an open fire).
Use noncombustible materials for attic insulation.
Make sure the upholstered furniture in your home conforms to current safety standards. Old upholstered furniture often has polyurethane foam which gives off lethal fumes when it burns.
Throw out old newspapers and cleaning rags that have been used with flammable solvents.
Use only safety matches.

In the kitchen

When decorating your kitchen do not use expanded polystyrene tiles on the ceiling. If they are already there it is best to remove them.
Never fill deep fat fryers more than half full (a covered automatic deep fat fryer is the safest for frying). Make sure that the foods you are about to fry have a dry surface to avoid spitting when you lower them into the oil or fat.
Whenever you go out of the kitchen, for example to answer the door, you must always turn off the burners even if you only expect to be gone for a moment.
Don't hang dish towels anywhere on the cooker or on the oven door.
Don't lean over the hob when the burner is on.

Electrical appliances

Switch off and unplug appliances not in use.
During a power failure, switch off all appliances that might come on again if power is restored while you are asleep or out of the house. This will also prevent your appliances being damaged if there is a power surge when the power is restored.
Never run an appliance from a light bulb socket.
Never cover a light bulb with paper or fabric.
Don't use time switches or thermostats on radiant coil or bar heaters - they might turn on when you are not expecting them to.
Keep electric blankets dry and free of creases, and have them serviced every three years.

Electrical Wiring and Cables

Don't trail long extension leads and flexes under carpets or rugs - if the wiring becomes damaged it could overheat and start a serious fire.
Don't overload power sockets with adaptors or use long trailing wires, have more sockets installed.
Keep electric cables away from flames and hot surfaces.
Replace worn or damaged cables on an appliance - do not use the appliance until the cable has been replaced.
Use purpose made connectors to join cables together - you must never just twist the wires together.
Have your home's electrical wiring checked out by a qualified electrician every five years.

Gas Fittings and Appliances

Keep rooms where gas appliances are used well ventilated.
Check that pilot lights and ignition devices are working properly.
Make sure disused gas points are properly plugged and capped; consult your local gas company or a qualified gas engineer for advice.
Fit all gas heaters with a fire guard.
Always be ready to light burners before you turn on the gas.

Bottled Gas Cylinders and Appliances

Change bottled gas cylinders outdoors or in a thoroughly ventilated room - and don't smoke when you are doing it.
Store spare gas cylinders in a frost free outbuilding and well away from sources of heat. Don't keep more full cylinders than you need.
Make sure all the gas taps are off before changing cylinders.
Always replace the safety cap on the valve when a gas cylinder is empty or not in use.
Never remove the regulator or adaptor on a self-sealing connector while the gas appliance is on.
You must never test for a gas leak using a lighted match. Test for a suspected leak by brushing soapy water over the joint. If bubbles appear that means there is a leak. Have the leak repaired by qualified gas engineer.

Kerosene Heaters

Keep kerosene (paraffin) heaters away from doors. They could get knocked over (ideally a heater should be fixed in place so that it cannot be accidentally knocked over).
Never attempt to move or fill a kerosene heater while it is alight.

Open Fires

Protect open fires with a fireguard. The guard should cover the entire fireplace, not just the fire.
Have the inside of the chimney cleaned at least once a year.
Keep a metal container by the fireside for removing ashes.
Never use gasoline or kerosene to start a fire.
Always damp down the fire and put the fireguard in front of it before going out or to bed.
If you suspect that your chimney may be on fire, call the fire service immediately and clear away anything that could catch fire, such as the hearth rug.

If You Smoke Cigarettes, Cigars or a Pipe

Carefully extinguish all matches after you have finished using them.
Never leave a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe on the edge of an ashtray or where it could fall onto furniture or the carpet - this causes many house fires.
Never empty ashes into wastepaper baskets.
Never smoke in bed or when you are sleepy - it is easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still alight - this is another major cause of fires.

Before going to bed

Make sure that you switch off and unplug all electric appliances which are not in use. Don't leave televisions etc. in standby mode - you will also be saving energy.
Turn off gas heaters.
Ensure open fires are damped down and have a fire guard in front of them.
Check that there are no smoldering cigarettes in any room especially in ashtrays or down the sides of chairs.
Close all internal doors (but don't lock them) to slow or contain a fire if one should start.
Use only flameretardent nightwear and bedding.