Keeping fire safe in the home – Be HomeFire Aware
There were over 400 fires in Hertfordshire homes last year – the vast majority caused by accident and over a quarter through cooking appliances.
Other top causes include faulty electrical appliances, overloaded sockets or damaged chargers, smoking, lithium ion batteries and candles.
This summer Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service are reminding people of the simple steps they can take to protect their home from fire.
These are:
1) Smoke alarms – make sure you have working smoke alarms. They’re not an early warning, they’re your only warning. Read our tips and troubleshooting guides.
2) Home fire safety self-check – answer some questions and get a personalised fire safety action plan straightaway. It might suggest that you need a home fire safety visit.
3) Make a fire escape plan – it’ll be quicker and easier to escape if you’ve already thought about it.
4) Rechargeable batteries – take care when using devices with rechargeable lithium ion batteries. Damaged batteries, unsafe or incorrect chargers, poor quality products and unsafe charging practices can quickly cause fires.
5) Cooking – never leave cooking unattended. Turn off the heat or take pans off the hob if you need to leave the kitchen. Keep flammable items such as tea towels and packaging away from the cooker.
6) Overloaded sockets – check for overloaded sockets, damaged plugs and frayed cables. Replace unsafe or counterfeit leads and switch off or unplug appliances when not in use.
7) Fire exits – keep them clear and accessible at all times.
From time to time, we also call residents more at risk to offer a visit, working closely with Adult Care Services. This is a free visit and we will never ask for payment or your card details. If you are ever worried a phone call could be a scam, call us on 0300 123 4046 to check the identity of the person calling.
You can find out more advice and do the home fire safety self-check at here.