Fire safety in your home

Do not keep vehicles with power sources close to your property. This includes e-scooters, motorbikes and mopeds.
If you are a smoker, smoke outside your home. Always put the cigarette out in an ashtray and ensure that it is fully extinguished.
If you have a barbeque, keep it well away from your home and always ensure it is fully extinguished when you are finished.

Never leave cooking unattended.
Be careful where mirrors are positioned within your home as they could concentrate sunlight on flammable objects such as curtains, blankets, magazines and carpets.
Make sure you only use electrical appliances with a British or European safety mark.
Don’t buy cheap counterfeit chargers or power supplies, and never leave phones or laptops plugged in to charge overnight.
Hair straighteners can get extremely hot. Always switch them off and leave them to cool on a heatproof surface.
Never smoke in bed, or anywhere else, if there’s a chance of falling asleep.
Ensure that you have a fire alarm and that you regularly check that it is working properly
Candles, tea lights and incense burners should only be placed in stable, heat-resistant holders. Keep these items or any other type of naked flame well away from curtains, furniture and clothes.
Don’t overload electrical sockets.
Electric scooters / electric bikes: if the batteries become damaged or begin to fail they can start incredibly ferocious fires within seconds. Important and simple safety tips to reduce the risk of fire to protect you and your community can be found on the London Fire Brigade website. Further information on battery safety for e-scooter users can be found on the gov.uk website.
Close all doors at night as this helps to prevent fire and smoke spreading.

The London Fire Brigade offer free home fire safety visits.
If you hear your smoke alarm sound, never assume it is a false alarm.
Always know your escape route, and keep it clear from household possessions, so that you can leave your home quickly if you need to.
Make sure escape routes are kept clear of anything that may slow down or block exit routes.
Ensure security gates can be easily opened from the inside without the need for a key. Keep door and window keys where everyone can find them.

You can also download this fire safety in your home information:

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You can find out more about fire safety at london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-home/. By working together, we can keep you and your neighbours safe.

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