Fire safety

Everyone loves eating al fresco and nothing beats a BBQ. But they can be dangerous if not handled responsibly, so do keep safety in mind.

• NEVER use a barbecue – including disposables – indoors or on your balcony.
  Place your barbecue on level ground, well away from anything flammable like sheds, fences, trees or tents.
• Don’t use any flammable liquids on your barbecue – firelighters are a much safer option.
• Carefully supervise children – little ones may trip and fall, while older children might hurt themselves trying to help.
• Be pet-aware – they can cause accidents by getting under your feet, so either keep them indoors or at least out of the way of the BBQ.
• After cooking, barbecues can stay hot for hours, so take care if moving them.

A warm glow, delicate fragrance, relaxing atmosphere… candles have become much more than an emergency light source. But with their rising popularity comes greater risk of fire.

• Always put out candles, incense and oil burners when you leave the room and before you go to bed. Double-check that the flame has been extinguished.
• Place candles in well-fitting, heat-resistant holders on stable surfaces to reduce the chances of them being knocked over.
• Keep them away from materials that might catch fire, such as furniture, curtains, piles of paper, books and your hair. At Christmas, don’t place them anywhere near decorations.
• Use proper holders for tea lights, which get very hot and can melt through plastic surfaces like baths or televisions.
• Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.
• Why not try LED candles? They are safe even if you fall asleep or leave them on.

Around 60% of fires start in the kitchen – more than in any other room in your home. Follow our tips to reduce risk:

• Don’t leave pans unattended on the hob or grill – if you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.
• If you’re feeling tired, have been drinking alcohol or are taking medication that can make you feel drowsy, it’s safer not to cook and to eat something cold instead.
• Loose clothing can easily catch fire, so take care not to lean over a hot hob, and always keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob.
• Try to keep the oven, hob, cooker hood, extractor fan and grill clean. Built-up fat and grease can ignite and cause a fire.
• Use spark devices to light gas cookers. They are much safer than matches or lighters, as they don’t have a naked flame. They are safer around children, too.
• Always make sure 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.
• Never put anything metal in the microwave.
• Always keep an eye on children and pets in the kitchen: don’t leave them unsupervised; put matches away; and keep saucepan handles out of reach.

Our homes are packed with electrical appliances that make our lives easier, better connected and more entertaining, but each is a potential fire hazard. Take the following precautions to minimise the risk.

• Only buy electrical appliances with a British or European safety mark.
• Keep electrical appliances clean and in good working order.
• Use the chargers that come with your phone, laptop or tablet. Buy genuine replacement chargers – never cheap alternatives.
• Don’t charge devices overnight – over-charging can increase the fire risk.
• Remove filter fluff from tumble dryers in line with manufacturer instructions.
  Switch hair straighteners off after use and leave to cool on a heatproof surface.
• Use one plug per socket, especially for products that use a lot of power, like washing machines, kettles or microwaves.
• Don’t overload extension leads and only use those with their own fused plug.
• Register white goods so manufacturers can contact you if there are safety concerns about your product.