Fire Safety at Home

02 December 2021

We work very hard to create a cosy home for ourselves and our families – one where we can feel safe and warm and recover from the pressures of everyday life. But how much consideration do we give to everyday perils like fires in the home?

According to www.gov.ie, the highest known cause of house fires attended by fire brigades across Ireland in 2020 started as a result of chimney fires or hot ashes.

The same site reports that there were 29 recorded fatalities caused by fire in Ireland in 2020. In almost half of these instances there were no smoke alarms present.

With that in mind we put together some tips that may lessen the chance of a fire outbreak in your home:

Ask the Experts

Make sure you have your chimneys and flues attended to by a professional at least once a year to prevent chimney fires. When emptying ashes use a steel ash bucket to store them in and only transfer to a bin when you are one hundred percent sure they are cold and cannot reignite.
Always use a qualified electrician to carry out any electrical jobs in or around the house. Electricity can prove very dangerous in the wrong hands.

Electrical Appliances

Unplug all electrical appliances when not in use, especially at night time and when leaving the house for long periods of time.
Do not overload sockets and check all leads and plugs for fraying or burning and replace where necessary.
Always unplug phone chargers.

Flammable Materials

It may sound obvious but be careful with aerosol cans – make sure they’re not beside radiators or heaters or any such heat source. That includes the likes of deodorants, hair sprays, etc.
Make sure all flammable materials – such as paints, solvents and chemicals – are not stored in the house.

Fire Safety Equipment

Invest in good quality smoke and CO2 alarms and make sure to test them weekly. Dublin City Council state that “You should have a smoke detector in each escape route (corridor, landing, stairs etc), in each bedroom, and other high-risk rooms like the living room, garage and utility room. The kitchen should have a heat detector to avoid false alarms.”
Fire extinguishers and fire blankets are a wise investment, especially for the kitchen area, but make sure you know how to use them and on what types of fires.

Escape Routes

Prepare an evacuation plan with everyone in the house and practice it regularly to identify any pitfalls.
Make sure all exit routes are kept clear at all times and make sure you have more than one exit route planned in case one is blocked or too dangerous to pass.

Smokers

Never smoke while over-tired and especially not in bed.
Always keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
Make sure smokers use large stable ashtrays and extinguish cigarettes fully every time.

The danger of fire is an ever-present part of modern life, but as you can see from the above, it can be managed by taking some simple preventative steps. Most important of these is to invest in smoke and CO2 alarms: you could even make them part of your family’s secret Santa this year!

These handy tips could help keep your home a safe haven for you and your family for years to come.

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