Fire safety at home

Image courtesty of Christian Allard | Unsplash.com

Tumble Dryers

One of the leading causes of household fires is the tumble dryer. Tumble dryers are convenient for drying clothes, but they also require careful attention to prevent fires. Fires can start in a dryer when lint/fluff builds up and overheats, blocking air circulation and raising the temperature inside the machine.

To keep your dryer safe, you should:

• Clean the filter before every use. Lint, made up of tiny fibres from clothes, is highly flammable, and a clogged filter can easily catch fire.
• Check that the exhaust vent is clear and not obstructed. Blocked vents can cause overheating and increase fire risk.
• Don’t overload the dryer. Overloading makes the motor work harder, which can lead to overheating. It also means that it can be more expensive to run the dryer as clothes take much longer to dry.
• Switch it off when you’re out of the house. It’s tempting to set the dryer running when you head out, but it’s safer to use it only when you’re home and awake. This was you can spot any fire hazards before they develop.
• Consider annual servicing by a white goods professional to keep the machine in good working condition and check for potential issues.

Cooking with care

The kitchen is another common location for fires, particularly from unattended cooking. Cooking oils, fats, and even some food items can catch fire easily, while kitchen appliances, if left unattended, can also overheat or spark.

To help prevent fires in the kitchen, you should:

• Never leave cooking unattended. If you must step away, turn off the hob or oven.
• Keep flammable items away from the stove. Tea towels, paper, and even curtains can catch fire if left too close to heat sources.
• When cooking with oils, be very careful. If oil begins to smoke, it’s too hot and at risk of igniting. Always heat oils slowly and keep a lid nearby to smother flames if needed. You should always keep hot pans with oils in them well out of reach of children.
• If you have a fire extinguisher or fire blanket installed, know how to use it. You should never throw water on an oil fire as this can cause the fire to spread and increase the risk of injury.

House candles

Candles and open flames can create a cosy atmosphere, but they’re also a fire risk if left unattended.

To prevent candles causing a fire, you should:

• Place candles in sturdy holders on flat surfaces, well away from curtains, papers, and furniture.
• Never leave candles unattended. Keep them well out of reach of children or pets. Extinguish them when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Opt for LED candles for a safe alternative that doesn’t involve an open flame but provides the same warm glow.

Electrical appliances and outlets

Electrical appliances, when faulty or overloaded, can be a major cause of house fires. Items like hairdryers, phone chargers, and kettles may seem harmless but can spark or overheat if misused.

To help stop this from happening, it is important to:

• Keep an eye out for any product recalls that affect your electronic devices. A list of recalls is regularly published and if you have a device which is affected you should stop using it immediately.
• Regularly check your appliances for frayed cords, loose connections, or any signs of damage. Damaged cables or wires can short-circuit and cause sparks.
• Avoid overloading plug sockets. Plugging too many devices into one socket can lead to overheating. This includes extension leads.
• Unplug small appliances when not in use, particularly overnight. This simple step can reduce fire risk.
• Use quality extension leads, and avoid using them as a permanent solution, as they’re more prone to overheating.
• Arrange an annual PAT test (Portable Appliance Testing) for your appliances to check that they are safe to use.

Smoking

Smoking-related fires are another significant hazard. Even a small spark from a cigarette can ignite upholstery, bedding, or other flammable materials, and these fires are often deadly as they typically start while people are resting or asleep.

If you do smoke, you should consider these ways of minimising the risk to you and your home:

• Never smoke indoors. If possible, smoke outside, away from windows and doors. Not only is this safer for the prevention of fires, it is far healthier for non-smokers at home and prevents odour in your home from stale smoke.
• Ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished before disposing of them. Pour water over butts and ashes if they are thrown away indoors.
• Use a deep, sturdy ashtray and keep it away from flammable objects. Make sure it won’t get knocked over and that it is well out of reach by children.

Portable heaters

As the weather cools, portable heaters become a popular way to stay warm, but they can be risky if not used correctly. Heaters left too close to flammable objects, or those that are faulty, are frequent causes of fires during winter.

Please note, Melin does not allow the use of free-standing gas heaters in our properties as we consider them to be too great a fire risk as well as a risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Use of such fires in a Melin home is a breach of your occupancy contract.

If you are using an electric heater, here are some tips to help keep your home safe:

• Keep heaters at least one metre away from curtains, bedding, and furniture. This ensures they don’t accidentally ignite anything around them.
• Turn heaters off when leaving a room or going to bed. Even a short period of overheating can cause damage or start a fire.
• Avoid drying clothes on heaters.This is a serious fire risk and can lead to sparks or overheating.

Smoke alarms

Properly installed and working smoke alarms are crucial in any home. They give early warning, allowing you and your family precious time to escape in case of a fire.

Melin regularly tests the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in its properties, but in addition to this you can test your smoke alarms monthly. It only takes a minute to press the “test” button and ensure it is functioning properly.

Gas and electrical safety visits

Remember, as part of being a Melin resident, we arrange for a free annual gas safety check on your home. We also arrange a five-yearly electrical safety inspection (this includes checking your smoke alarms) for your home. These are important to keep you and your household safe and if you have one of these appointments it is important that you keep it. If you ever need to rearrange your visit, please contact us as soon as possible and we can make alternative arrangements.

By following these tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of fire in your home. At Melin, we encourage all residents to take simple steps to protect themselves and their families from fire hazards. Remember, a little prevention can go a long way in ensuring your safety and peace of mind.

If you have any questions or concerns around fire safety in your home, please contact us. We are here to help with advice, information and guidance to keep you safe and comfortable at home.