Fire safety

Stay safe - fire safety in your home

• You should have at least one smoke detector installed on each floor of your property. If not contact us and we will fit one free of charge
• Test your smoke alarm once a week
• Keep door and window keys accessible where everyone in your household can find them
• Keep your doorways and hallways free from clutter
• Close all doors at night, especially the doors to the lounge and kitchen, to prevent fire spreading
• Your front door is a fire door - it keeps you and your neighbours safe. Never prop it open or remove the metal arm or chain which closes it. Please report any issue with your closer and we will come and repair it.
• Make an escape plan so that you and your family know what to do if there is a fire in your flat
• Never leave cooking unattended and don't start cooking if you are very tired or are under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Maintain electrical goods and ensure you turn off appliances not intended to remain on for long periods, such as irons or hair straighteners
• Don't overload plug sockets or extension leads
• If you smoke, make sure you put cigarettes out properly and don't smoke in bed or while drowsy
• Take care with candles. Never leave one unattended and use a proper heat resistant holder on a stable surface away from draughts and flammable materials such as curtains
• Register your appliances with Register My Appliance and you'll be notified about product recalls or safety notices.
• Get free, personalised home fire safety advice from our friends at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS). Complete an Online Home Fire Safety Check to help identify fire hazards in your home and get guidance on simple changes you can make to reduce the risk of a fire. Your answers will also help the GMFRS team to decide if you need a Home Fire Safety Assessment, in which local firefighters or prevention staff will visit you at your home. Read more about Home Fire Safety Assessments.

Safety in the kitchen

Most house fires start in the kitchen. Some information is below to help keep you and your family safe.

Cookers and microwaves

• Never leave your cooking unattended
• Don’t get distracted while cooking
• Keep electrical leads, tea towels and cloths away from your cooker
• Keep your oven, hob and grill clean. A build up of fat and grease can easily catch fire
• Never put anything metallic inside the microwave, such as cutlery or tin cans
• Don't put a sponge or dishcloth in the microwave to sterilise it - it could catch fire
• Take care if you are wearing loose clothing while cooking with gas as it can easily catch fire.
• If clothes do catch fire, don’t run. Remember ‘stop, drop and roll’.
• Never cook if you’ve taken medication, drugs or alcohol that make you tired or drowsy.

Electrics

• Keep electrical leads and appliances away from water
• Check your toaster is clean and free of crumbs. Keep it away from curtains and kitchen roll
• Turn off electrical appliances when they are not being used and service them regularly
• Don't overload sockets - only use one plug in each socket
• If you have to use more than one plug per socket, use a fused adaptor and keep the total output to no more than 13 amps

Frying food/chip pans

• Take care when frying - hot oil or fat can easily catch fire​
• When deep frying, always dry the food before you put it in the oil
• Never fill a pan more than one-third full of oil. If the oil starts to smoke, it's too hot - turn off the heat and leave it to cool down
• Don’t use a chip pan. Try oven alternatives or use a thermostat controlled fryer

Air fryers

An air fryer can help you to cook in an energy efficient way but, as with all electrical appliances, you should take care to use them safely to avoid fire risk.

• If you notice a burning smell or any unusual noises, switch the fryer off immediately and contact the retailer and/or manufacturer.
• Never put oil inside your air fryer
• Watch out for hot steam coming out of the fryer
• Never immerse the fryer in water, and always wait at least 30 minutes to clean it after use
• Keep the power cords away from hot surfaces
• Always turn off the fryer at the socket when not in use
• Never leave the fryer unattended
• Don’t overfill your fryer – check the manufacturer’s instructions but typically it should be no more than two-thirds full
• Turn the handles away from the front of the cooker. This will reduce the risk of knocking it off the counter
• Read and follow manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning your air fryer

 If your pan catches fire:

• Don't panic and don't take risks
• Don't move the pan
• Never throw water or use a water fire extinguisher on a hot fat fire
• If it's safe to do so - turn off the heat, but never lean over the pan to reach the controls
• Leave the kitchen, close the door behind you, tell everyone else in the home to get out and don't go back inside for any reason
• Call 999

Electric bikes and scooters

Electric bikes and scooters are becoming more and more popular and we are sharing safety advice from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service to help keep e-bike and e-scooter owners and their neighbours and families fire safe.

It is important when charging e-bikes and e-scooters, you do so safely to avoid a risk of a fire starting and putting your families and homes at risk.

Advice for storing and charging

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storing your electric bike/scooter.
• Fit smoke or heat detection in the room or garage where you charge or store your electric bike/scooter
• Store electric bikes/scooters and their batteries in a cool place. Avoid excessively hot or cold places.
• Follow manufacturer’s instructions for the storage and maintenance of lithium -ion batteries if they are not going to be used for extended periods of time.
• Always use the manufacturer approved charger for the product.
• Don’t overcharge and always unplug your charger when it’s finished charging.
• Don’t leave batteries to charge while you are asleep or away from the home.
• Don’t cover chargers or battery packs when charging. This could lead to overheating or fire.
• Don’t charge batteries or store your electric bike/scooter near combustible or flammable materials. In the event of an electric bike/scooter or lithium-ion battery fire – do not attempt to extinguish the fire. Get out, stay out, call 999.
• Avoid storing or charging e-bikes/scooters on escape routes or in communal areas where they could obstruct escape routes.

Buying

• Buy electric bikes/scooters and chargers and batteries from reputable retailers. Items which don’t meet British or European standards pose a fire risk.
• If buying an electric bike conversion kit, purchase from a reputable seller and check that it complies with British or European standards. If buying separate components, check that they are compatible.
• Ensure you register your appliance with the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA) for a safer home.

Damage and disposal of batteries

• Batteries can be damaged by dropping them or crashing electric bikes/scooters. Where the battery is damaged, it can overheat and catch fire without warning. Check your battery regularly for any signs of damage and if you suspect it is damaged it should be replaced and should not be used or charged.
• If you need to dispose of a damaged or end of life battery, don’t dispose of it in your household waste or normal recycling. These batteries, when punctured or crushed can cause fires in bin lorries, recycling and waste centres. Your electric bike/scooter manufacturer may offer a recycling service. Alternatively, you can take it to your local Household Waste and Recycling Centre (Tip).

Communal block fire safety

Living in a communal block doesn't mean you are any more at risk from fire. But it does mean that you need to consider your own fire safety and how a fire in your home could impact on other residents in your block.

It is important for your own safety to understand what to do in the event of a fire, whether it's in your flat or somewhere else in the building.

If there is a fire or smoke in your flat:

• Where safe to do so close the door of the room where the fire is
• Alert any other people in the flat
• Get out, closing all doors behind you
• Stay out
• Call the fire service by dialling 999. Never assume someone else has called
• Always use the stairs to get out of the building
• Don't go back into the building until the fire service says it is safe to do so

If there is a fire in another part of the building:

It will normally be safest for you to stay in your flat.

But, if you do feel unsafe or your flat is affected by heat or smoke, then get out and call the fire service by dialling 999. If a member of the fire service tells you to leave the building, you should do so immediately.

If you are cut off by fire:

• If your escape route is blocked by fire or smoke, stay inside the safest room with a window that opens and ring 999
• Keep the door closed and use towels or bedding at the bottom of the door to block the smoke
• if you are trapped, go to the balcony or window so that you can be seen - but don't jump
• Wait to be rescued by a firefighter

Fire safety in your block

• Keep all landings, corridors and doorways clear of obstructions, including rubbish
• Never wedge communal doors open
• Don't keep things in your home or communal areas that burn easily. This includes bottled gas, paraffin heaters or liquid fuel
• Never block emergency access to your building. Park considerately so emergency vehicles can get as close as possible
• Get to know your neighbours. They may be young, elderly or vulnerable, and need help during an emergency
• Enjoy your balcony safely and do not use chimineas, BBQs, disposable BBQs, fire pits, candles or any other form of open fire, nor fireworks under any circumstances.
• Never put items down the bin chute that could potentially cause a fire.
• Never force items into the chute that are too large to fit. It may cause damage and in the event of a fire, the chute won’t work as it is designed to. Big items can also cause a blockage and put the chute out of use.
• Never fly-tip rubbish in the communal areas or next to the rubbish chutes or bin rooms. These are a fire hazard and a health and safety risk.

Wheelie bins and fire safety

• Wheelie bin fires can have fatal consequences if they spread to your home.
• A wheelie bin fire can easily spread, causing danger to people and property.
• Wheelie bin fires release toxic fumes and smoke which pollute the environment.

Smoking and fire safety

The best way to reduce the risk of a smoking-related fire in your home is to quit smoking.

Alternatively, switching to vaping electronic cigarettes provides a safer alternative. The number of fires caused by electronic cigarettes is lower than the number caused by tobacco cigarettes.

Another option is to have a smokefree home (smoking outdoors), as this will reduce the risk of a fire in your property.

If you’re not ready to quit, switch or go smokefree, follow the fire safety advice from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service below.

Put it out, right out

• Stub your cigarettes out properly
• Don’t leave a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe lying around. They can easily fall over and start a fire.
• Use a proper, heavy ashtray, never a wastepaper basket.
• Make sure your ashtray can’t tip over and is made of material that won’t burn.
• Keep a small amount of water in the bottom of your ashtray to make sure your cigarettes have definitely been extinguished when you stub them out.
• Dispose of your cigarettes carefully.
• Ensure that contents of ashtrays are cold before they are emptied into a suitable bin outdoors. Putting water on ashes or butts is a good idea.

Take extra care

• NEVER smoke in bed.
• Take extra care if you smoke when you’re tired as it’s easy to fall asleep with a cigarette burning and set your bed, sofa or clothes on fire.
• Don’t smoke if you’ve taken medication, drugs/alcohol that make you tired or drowsy. If you do smoke in this situation, take extra care or smoke outdoors.
• Never smoke or let anyone else smoke in the same room as someone using home oxygen therapy or where home oxygen therapy is stored.
• Never smoke on, or near to, an air-filled pressure relieving mattress or device.
• Don’t smoke if you, or anyone near you, is using emollient creams in contact with skin, clothes, dressing or bandages.
• Keep the area where you smoke clear of combustible materials.
• If you’re smoking outdoors, ensure your cigarettes are extinguished properly. Dispose of them safely and don’t drop them onto dry grass or other vegetation.
• Always keep matches and lighters away from children.
• Buy child resistant lighters and matchboxes.

Never smoke illegally manufactured cigarettes

Illegally manufactured cigarettes don’t comply with fire safety regulations. So, whilst no cigarette is completely fire-safe, regulated products have thin bands of less-porous cigarette paper along the length of the cigarette, which help to extinguish it if the smoker doesn’t continue to smoke the cigarette. To avoid illegal tobacco, buy known brands that come in dull, plain packaging, carrying a picture and text health warning and a ‘UK Duty Paid’ mark. Legal packs contain a minimum of 20 cigarettes. Buy from a reputable retailer and avoid cheap prices or buying from pubs, clubs, car boot sales, online or on the street.

Smoke and heat alarms

Fit a minimum of one smoke alarm on every floor of your home and a heat alarm in your kitchen. If you smoke indoors, fit a smoke alarm in the rooms where you smoke. Test your alarms at least monthly. Working smoke alarms can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999.