Home safety partnerships

Smoking is the most common cause of fatal fires.

Signs of fire risk linked with smoking include:

• burns on carpets, furniture, bedding and clothing
• evidence of smoking in bed
• carelessly discarded cigarettes or matches
• overflowing ashtrays or inappropriate ashtrays such as butter tubs
• lighters or matches within the reach of children.

Information on smoking safety can be found on our smoking safety advice page.

A person with a physical impairment or limited mobility is not necessarily at greater risk of fire. However, they may be slow or unable to safely evacuate the property.

For people who are bed-bound or bariatric, escape will not be an option. The biggest risk to these individuals is smoking.

Read our safety advice for people with limited mobility.

People who live alone are more at risk from fire but only when combined with other risk and vulnerability factors.

This is likely to be because there is no one around to help with alerting the occupant to risky behaviours. Also, there is no one around to help with alerting the occupant to a fire, or to help with evacuation in a fire.

Drugs and alcohol reduce ability to make safe decisions, and to respond appropriately in case of a fire.

This increases the risk, particularly with smoking, or other activities, such as cooking, due to reduced cognitive function.

Prescription medications, particularly those that make you drowsy, can increase the risk of having a fire, especially if the person is a smoker. They can slow the ability to evacuate the property safely. This is because they are either designed to, or have side effects that relax or create calmness, and help people to sleep.

Mental illnesses do not necessarily increase the risk of fire. However, some mental illnesses, may require the use of medication that can lead to drowsiness and may lead to higher impulses for alcohol, non-prescription drugs, and smoking.

In some more serious conditions, symptoms can include firesetting behaviours.
Read about what to do if you are worried about a child that displays fire starting behaviour.

Dementia and memory loss

Dementia is a progressive brain disease that means a person’s ability to make rational decisions becomes more difficult. This can also occur in people who may not have been diagnosed with dementia but show signs of forgetfulness.

Some of the specific risks and vulnerabilities to fire that the condition creates are:

• leaving cooking unattended or putting things on cookers or in microwaves that shouldn’t be there
• misunderstanding the sound of the smoke detector in the event of a fire and not taking appropriate action
• not recognising the property they live in, which reduces their ability to exit in a safe and timely manner.

Hoarding disorders increase fire loading and risk. Possessions can block exit routes, making evacuation difficult. Fire spreads faster if doors cannot be closed and if there are flammable items such as newspapers or cardboard lying around.

It also reduces a firefighters’ ability to enter the property and tackle the fire because it makes the fire more intense and impedes their ability to move around.

When you see clutter in a home that includes hazardous or highly flammable materials, or where items are stored close to ignition sources, such as gas fires or cookers, you should request a Home Fire Safety Visit..

Read more and watch a video about a firefighter’s personal experience with hoarding.

Also refer to the clutter rating on the Hoarding Disorders UK website.

Smoke alarms do not prevent a fire from occurring but they provide the earliest possible warning of a fire, to give the best chance of exiting the property safely.

We recommend that all homes have at least one working smoke detector on each level of the property, and to cover all known risks in the home.

• Read about smoke detectors
• Read about smoke detectors for vulnerable people.

Most fires started by heaters are caused by sitting too close to them, placing them near curtains and furniture, or using them to dry washing. There have also been instances where portable heaters become a trip hazard, making escape more difficult.

We recommend oil-filled radiators due to the lower fire risk of these types of heaters.

All other types of heaters should be regularly checked and ideally should have a tip switch which will turn it off if knocked over.

Heaters should be bought from a reputable supplier. We are aware of cheap but highly dangerous plug-in heaters bought online with fake safety marks.

Read more about heaters and fire safety.

People with vulnerabilities, and those on lower incomes, are less likely to have their chimney regularly swept and are more likely to use inappropriate fuel.

Chimneys should be well-maintained and kept structurally sound. Only fuels appropriate to the open fire should be used. Chimneys and wood burner flues should be swept by a chimney sweep and checked by a qualified and certified chimney engineer.

If burning wood, it must be well-seasoned. This means that it has been left to dry out for a long time so the moisture has evaporated from the wood.

Read more about chimneys, open fires and log burners.

The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is also higher with open fires and a carbon monoxide alarm should be placed in the same room as the open fire.

The risk factors for people with learning disabilities include:

• inhibited ability to make safe decisions
• not remembering safety information which could affect their ability to respond to fire and exit in a safe and timely manner
• their vulnerability to being inappropriately befriended by individuals who undertake risky activities.

A hearing impairment does not in isolation make a person more at risk of fire but without the correct type of smoke detection they are less likely to be able to respond to a fire. Smoke detection should include flashing strobes and vibrating pillow pads.

Where the person lives in sheltered type accommodation consideration should be given to how the alarm system links to the individual’s smoke detector.

Visual impairment in isolation does not make a person more at risk of fire. With appropriate adaptations, everyday household tasks can be carried out safely. For a person with visual impairment, a working smoke detector and escape plans are particularly important, as is the need for clear escape routes.

Our Home Safety Visit request form allows you to specify if the person has an impairment that may mean they need specialist fire or smoke detection and alarm equipment and if so, we can fit this equipment free of charge.

The biggest risk of electrical fire comes from damaged or overloaded sockets, or ‘daisy-chained’ extension leads that have been plugged into each other.

Placing combustibles such as clothing or paper close to electrical equipment and sockets is also a risk.

Faulty electric blankets are a common cause of fire, as are electrical chargers and appliances which do not comply with British or European safety standards. Always use the correct charger.

Do not store or charge battery-powered items such as e-bikes, e-scooters and mobility scooters in escape route hallways. These can catch fire and block the route of escape.

Read more about electrical safety.

Dynamic-flow pressure relieving mattresses (and overlays on top of standard mattresses) are provided to people who spend long periods of time in bed.

The mattress is filled by a pump that adjusts pressure according to the patient’s needs. If the mattress is punctured and loses air, the pump reacts by increasing the flow, potentially fuelling a fire. The mattress pump also contains a battery backup so if the electricity supply fails, the pump continues to discharge compressed air.

This is a concern if there is an ignition source nearby, such as discarded cigarettes. Due to the electrical requirements of this equipment, there is also a risk of sockets being overloaded.

Read more about specialist health equipment.

Emollient creams treat conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. The use of such creams can result in bedding, dressings and clothes becoming impregnated with emollient, which makes them more flammable. These items easily ignite when brought into contact with naked flames or heat sources such as smoking materials, candles, portable heaters and cookers.

This applies to all emollient creams, not just paraffin-based creams.

To see how quickly emollients ignite and read more safety information.

We strongly recommend those who have medical oxygen in their property receive a Home Safety Visit. People using home oxygen in combination with smoking or emollients are considered a higher fire risk.

Oxygen is prescribed by doctors for smoking-related lung diseases but users often continue to smoke.

Oxygen is a gas that helps things burn. When dirt, grease or naked flames are exposed to oxygen they can react explosively. An oxygen-rich atmosphere creates an increased risk of rapid-fire spread which is a particular risk for smokers.

The presence of medical oxygen cylinders poses a risk to firefighters and the user in the event of a fire because the heat can cause the cylinders to explode.

For more information on how to support someone, please visit fire safety for carers and professionals.

Request a home safety visit.

Incontinence pads and pants are often supplied in large quantities. They can be bulky and difficult to store, can catch fire, and add fuel to a developing fire.

People who are bed or chair-bound, using incontinence products outside of clothing, are at higher risk of fire when combined with smoking. Ash or embers can land on the pads and easily catch fire.

Read more about specialist health equipment.