Fire safety in your home

Use this guide to help you find advice and information on fire safety in your home.

Top tips to protect your home from fire

  • Have at least one working smoke detector in your home, ideally situated on the ceiling outside the kitchen. A smoke alarm is the easiest way to alert you of a fire, giving you time to escape.
  • Always keep a working battery in your smoke detector. Keep them dust-free and test them once a week to check they still work.
  • Think about how you could escape quickly and safely from your home if there was a fire.
  • Keep communal areas clear. It is important to keep communal areas like corridors, walkways and exit doors clear, so that if there is a fire, residents can evacuate the building quickly and safely and the fire brigade will be able to reach your property without obstacles in the way.
  • Don't overload electrical sockets. Only use one plug per socket. To see if you're overloading your sockets, visit the London Fire Brigade website.
  • Take extra care when cooking with hot oil. Consider buying a deep-fat fryer which is controlled by a thermostat.
  • Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly and are disposed of carefully. Never smoke in bed.
  • Keep matches and lighters away from children.
  • Do not leave electrical appliances on standby. Always switch them off and unplug them when not in use.