Home fire safety
Our responsibilities
To help keep you safe, we will inspect and service your gas appliances and test your smoke alarm and any heat detectors annually. We'll also inspect the electrical installation in your home every five years.
Communal areas of flats must be kept free from stored items that may prevent a safe evacuation or increase the risk and spread of fire in a building.
What to do if there's a fire
- Don’t tackle fires yourself, leave it to the professionals
- If a fire starts in your home, keep calm and act quickly to get everyone to a safe area as soon as possible. Close doors and windows as you leave if safe to do so
- Don’t waste time investigating what has happened or rescuing valuables
- If there is smoke, keep low where the air is clearer
- Before opening a door check to see if it is warm – if it is, fire may be on the other side
- Call 999 as soon as you are clear of the building.
What to do if your clothes catch fire
- Don’t run around, you’ll make the flames worse
- Lie down and roll around – it makes it harder for the fire to spread
- Smother the flames with a heavy material, like a coat or blanket
- Remember - ‘Stop, Drop and Roll’.
Avoid overloading your plug sockets - with this free socket calculator
The use of extension leads can be a simple and cost-effective way of increasing the number of appliances and devices we have in our homes. However, although there is space to plug in up to four additional sockets into a four-way extension bar, this does not mean it's always safe to do so.
You can avoid overloading sockets and reduce the risk of a fire starting in your home by following this simple advice from the Electrical Fire Safety organisation:
- Check the current rating of the extension lead before plugging appliances into it. Most are rated 13A and recommended for use but some are rated only 10A or less. The rating should be clearly marked on the back or underside of the extension lead. If not, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Never overload an extension lead by plugging in appliances that together will exceed the maximum current rating stated for the extension lead. This could cause the plug in the wall socket to overheat and possibly cause a fire.
- Use this overload calculator (below) to check if you’re exceeding the maximum load.
Please enable JavaScript to use the Socket Calculator.
The Socket Calculator has been brought to you by Electrical Safety First.
For more safety information visit https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk
Top tips for fire safety in the home
Smoke alarms
If your smoke alarm gets damaged, or for any other reason you suspect it is faulty, please contact Trent & Dove immediately.
Fire doors
Fire doors hold back fire and smoke for 30 minutes or more giving people time to escape and the Fire & Rescue Service time to act.
All parts of a fire door – hinges, seals, closers, handles and glazing – are vital for the door to work effectively in the event of a fire.
- Never prop or wedge flat or communal doors open
- Never tamper with a fire door or remove self-closing devices
- Ensure the door firmly closes into the frame
- Report any defects or concerns about fire doors immediately.
Kitchen
- Take pans off the heat or turn the heat down if you need to leave the kitchen while cooking
- Make sure the cooker is turned off once you have finished cooking
- Avoid having saucepan handles sticking out to stop them from being knocked off the stove
- Be careful if wearing loose clothing while cooking as it can catch fire easily
- Make sure that tea towels and cloths are kept away from the cooker and hob
- Make sure that toasters are clean and placed away from flammable materials
- Make sure that the oven, hob and grill are kept clean and in good working order. Do not put any metal items in the microwave. Be careful if cooking with hot oil as it sets alight easily
- Make sure food is dry before putting in hot oil so that it doesn’t spit
- Oil starts to smoke if it is too hot – turn of the heat and let it cool
- If possible, use a thermostatically controlled electric deep fat fryer or an air fryer rather than a chip-pan
- If a pan catches fire, turn off the heat if it is safe to do so. Do not throw water over it
- Do not tackle the fire – get out, closing all doors behind you, stay out and call 999.
Electrics
- Check that the right fuse is being used to prevent overheating
- Where possible keep to one plug per socket, particularly with high powered appliances, such as washing machines – never overload extension leads and adapters
- Keep electrical appliances clean and in good working order to prevent them triggering a fire
- Check your appliances for obvious signs of damage or deterioration, such as loose wiring, scorch marks, hot plugs or sockets, fuses that blow or circuit breakers that trip for no obvious reason or flickering lights
- Check all cables especially those that are hidden from view and replace if damage is visible
- Unplug appliances when they are not in use or when you go to bed and do not leave items on charge overnight
- For further information on electrical safety at home follow this link
Furniture
All furniture must be fire resistant – check for a fire resistant label, particularly if buying second hand furniture.
Electric blankets
- Store electric blankets in a flat or rolled up position. Folding them may cause damage
- If your electric blanket does not have a thermostatic control for safe all-night use, unplug your blanket before you get into bed
- Do not buy second hand electric blankets
- Check electric blankets regularly for wear and tear.
Portable heaters
- Where possible secure heaters up against a wall to prevent them from falling over
- Keep them away from curtains or other soft furnishings and never use them for drying clothes.
Cigarettes
- Make sure that cigarettes are stubbed out and disposed of correctly
- Never smoke in bed
- Use an ashtray that is made from material that won’t burn and empty ashtrays regularly
- Don’t leave a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe lying around – they can easily fall over and start a fire
- Extra care must be taken if you smoke when you’re feeling tired, taking prescription drugs, or if you’ve been drinking. There is a risk that you could fall asleep and set your bed or sofa on fire
- Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach.
Candles
- Make sure that candles are secured in a proper holder away from materials that can catch fire
- Extinguish - candles must be extinguished when you leave a room and double check before you go to bed
- Don’t leave children alone with candles and keep pets away
- Don’t leave oil or incense burners unattended.