Top ten Home Fire Safety Tips

House fires are not emergencies that are not planned for, in nearly all cases a number of factors combine to make the perfect environment for a fire to thrive and possible become an inferno.


As we fill out houses with more synthetic products filled with hydro carbons, fires are reaching ignition point a lot faster than they used to and resulting in a raging inferno before the fire brigade is able to reach the house. To be realistic for the fire brigade to be able to reach your house before ignition point we would need a fire brigade on every street corner and as this is unfeasible here are some top ten fire safety tips that may not save your property but can definitely save your life.

Install Smoke Detectors

A lot of people do not realise that when it comes to smoke inhalation you have around 30 – 45 seconds before your lungs fill with smoke and you pass away from smoke inhalation. The best way to prevent this is by having a 240 volt hard wired smoke alarm installed with a 9volt battery backup. Upon detecting the presence of smoke the alarm will activate waking you up so you can evacuate the premises. Unfortunately history has shown us that buy the time people wake up to smoke without a smoke alarm they are trapped by the fire and their chances of survival are extremely slim.

Test your Smoke Alarms

Just because you have a smoke alarm installed it does not mean it is functioning correctly, especially if it is run by a 9v battery. It is a great habit to replace the 9v battery and test the smoke alarm every year when you change your clocks for daylight savings.

Have a Plan

It is often said that those who fail to plan, plan to fail. This is true in many aspects of life however when it comes to fire safety even having a simple plan with your family can save their lives. Why don’t you have a discussion over your next family dinner and create a plan that will be used in the event of an emergency? A good way to start is have an escape plan and find two ways out of each room in case one way is blocked by fire or smoke.

Fire safety equipment

A fire extinguisher and fire blanket can not only save your property as they are able to extinguish a small fire in its early stages but a fire blanket will definitely save a family member’s life or prevent serious burns if for some reason they catch on fire for example whilst cooking. A fire blanket is one essential item that is necessary in all households.

Matches and lighters

Please keep all matches and lighters out of reach of small children, since a fire is able to double its size every thirty seconds.  You only have to take your eyes off your children for a couple of minutes and the results can be catastrophic.

Don’t hide

In the event of a fire the worst thing that you can do is hide inside a house e.g. inside a cupboard or under the bed.Whatever you do, do not hide but go outside immediately and contact emergency services.

Stop, Drop, Cover and Roll

This sounds very simple however it is extremely effective, if you are on fire you need to stop, drop and roll or use a fire blanket. Always remember that there are different types of fires that may be made worse when water is added. We recommend that you have a fire blanket handy at all times in the event of an emergency.

Fall and Crawl

Always remember it is easier to breath in a fire if you fall and crawl to escape the inferno, if approaching a closed door use the back of your hand to test if the door is hot before you open it.

Establish an evacuation point

When you discuss your plan also discuss an evacuation point, as seconds count in a fire if everyone meets at a certain point you can quickly establish if everyone has escaped or if someone is still trapped.

Know your emergency numbers

The quicker the fire brigade and emergency services can get to your house the quicker the fire can be subdued. Always ensure your family know the relevant emergency number.

By following these fire safety tips you can help mitigate the loss of life and property. For more information contact us today on 1300 347 372