Fire safety tips

If you are a victim of a fire it can be a distressing and a devastating experience, wiping out your possessions, leaving you with thousands of pounds worth of damage to your home or even worse you or your family injured or dead.

Our top ten tips to help you keep fire safe are:

1. Fit smoke alarms on each level in your home and test them weekly.
2. Take care in the kitchen and never leave cooking unattended especially when cooking with hot oil - it can catch fire easily.
3. Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
4. Do not overload electrical sockets - try and keep to one plug per socket and check for faulty frayed wiring.
5. Be careful with candles and tea lights make sure they are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire - like curtains.
6. Take special care when you are tired or when you've been drinking or taking medication. Half of all deaths in domestic fires happen between 10pm and 8am.
7. Get “key clever” - Keys for windows and doors should be kept in an easy to find place where everyone can find them. This is so you can get out in an event of a fire. Make sure everyone in the household knows where the keys are.
8. Be prepared by making a plan of escape and ensure everyone in the household knows what to do.
9. Before bedtime check that all appliances are off, especially dishwashers and washing machines. Ensure that all doors are closed shut as this could stop a fire from spreading and save your life.
10. Stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully, it’s easy to forget this when you’re tired or have drunk alcohol.

Please visit the Fire Kills website for guidance on smoke alarms, how to make an escape plan and fire safety in the home.

Remember don't tackle a fire yourself leave it to the professionals – Get out, call 999 and stay out!

Related links

• Fire Kills

Contact details

Risk Reduction Team
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue
Rewley Rd Fire Station
Oxford OX1 2EH

Phone 08000 325999
Email the team