Fire Safety in the Home

Most fires in the home can be prevented, by taking some basic and common sense precautions. This section will help you to inspect your home for anything that could cause a fire. You can then take the necessary actions to protect your home and the people who live in it. We have provided a list of the most common leaflets which are available to download. Should you require any of the leaflets as a hard copy, please ask at your local fire station who may have a small stock of many listed.

Please use the following list to download any leaflets you require

Visiting Your Home

Most, if not all fire and rescue services offer what is commonly known as a Safe and Well visit, some fire and rescues may still call them Home Fire Risk Assessments or Home Fire Safety Checks. They can sound daunting to many people, especially the elderly. However, this page will explain what they entail and how you can go about arranging to have one carried out.

A Safe and Well visit consists of members of your local fire and rescue service visiting your home, at a time convenient to yourself, to carry out an inspection of your home. The visit may be carried out by firefighters who are operational, so don’t be surprised if a fire engine arrives at your home. Alternatively the visit can be conducted by a dedicated safety team from your local fire and rescue service. You do however need to be aware that a fire appliance can be called away at a moment’s notice as it is still part of operational resources within your area. They will of course call back, or arrange another date and time if needed. Safe and Well visits are completely free and you may be eligible for free smoke alarms to be fitted were required. You will not be sold anything.

The visits focus on three key areas:

  • Identify and be aware of the potential fire risks within your home
  • Know what to do in order to reduce or prevent these risks
  • Put together an escape plan in case a fire does break out and ensure you have working smoke alarms.

The inspection of your home is not as intrusive as it sounds. We will visit your home, sit down and talk to you about many fire safety issues in your home, covering areas such as electrical safety, smoking and the use of electric blankets. We will then, with your permission, look at the various rooms within your home paying particular attention to areas such as overloaded plug sockets or wires trapped under carpets. We will also ensure that doors shut correctly and advise you of anything that needs addressing to make your home a safer one. You are welcome to ask any questions that you feel you need answering in respect of your home safety. We will also run through an escape plan if you do not already have one. You may qualify for free smoke alarms to be fitted within your home. We will carry this out completely free of charge and can fit them in a matter of minutes, ensuring you are safer from the moment we leave.

In addition to the above inspection, the new Safe and Well visit now includes the facility for those carrying out the visit to ask you some health and wellbeing questions. You do not have to answer any questions if you do not feel comfortable in doing so. However, the questions and answers given may give indicators suggesting further help is required, and the fire and rescue service may well be able to refer you to the correct partner agencies to get you the help required.

Your local fire and rescue service will regularly advertise Safe and Well visits through the media, but you can book one by contacting your local fire and rescue service direct. You may also make enquiries on behalf of another person – however unless you are responsible for that person, you will need to obtain their permission before you proceed.

Please Note: All members of the UK fire and rescue service who visit your home, will carry identification. If identification is not forthcoming, contact your local fire and rescue service to check they are genuine. You will not be asked for any money, so beware callers offering to carry out the above visit for a fee, they will be bogus.

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UK Fire Service Resources recommends Safelincs Safety Products for all your safety products and services.