Preventing fire and what to do if the worst happens
With most of us continuing to spend more time at home, understanding fire risks has never been more important.
According to the latest Government figures, 215 people lost their lives because of a home fire in the year ending June 2019. Smoking is a major cause of fire fatalities and cooking accidents account for around half of all home fires. Other risks include candles, which are responsible for around two fires a day, and faulty electrics which cause approximately 4,000 home fires every year.
Keeping your home safe
As stressed by the London Fire Brigade, the best way to fight fire is to prevent it and there are many steps you can take to help keep safe:
Fit smoke alarms
Installing at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home is the easiest way to protect your family. Your local fire and rescue service can advise on the most appropriate options and install them for you if required.
If you fit them yourself, the ideal position is on the ceiling in the middle of a room, hallway and landing.
It’s vital to test smoke alarms at least once a month. If battery powered, make sure these are replaced when needed.
Cook safely
Consider installing a heat alarm in your kitchen that detects temperature changes. Like smoke alarms, these are battery powered and can be installed by the homeowner.
Cooking fires are often caused by distractions so always keep an eye on the hob or grill. If you have to leave the kitchen, turn the heat off.
It’s also advisable to regularly clean cooking appliances, including the extractor fan and cooker hood as excessive grease can cause fire. And check toasters are clean and not situated close to anything that can catch fire such as curtains and kitchen rolls.
Another consideration is drinking alcohol. Around one in three people who died in a fire last year had alcohol in their system so if you’ve enjoyed a few drinks, avoid cooking afterwards.
Prevent issues with electrical items
There are many reasons why an electrical item could cause a fire.
To reduce these risks, only buy electrical appliances that have a British or European safety mark. Avoid leaving phones, laptops and other devices plugged in to charge overnight and try to keep one plug per socket. If you use an extension lead, don’t overload it and completely unwind the wire to avoid overheating.
Flickering lights, hot plugs and sockets, and fuses that blow for no obvious reason could be a sign of dangerous wiring. A qualified electrician can check this.
If you have pets, minimise the exposure of electric cords, which could be tempting for them to chew. Keep them rolled up and in a secure place to avoid damage.
Landlords’ obligations
Landlords need to take steps that protect tenants and the property if there is a fire. These include providing a smoke alarm on each storey and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fuel burning appliance.
Furniture and furnishings must all be fire safe and there has to be an adequate escape route.
There are various different laws that outline fire regulations, so landlords should regularly monitor these to keep on top of any changes that could affect their responsibilities.
What to do if there is a fire
Planning an escape route with everyone in a household could save lives if there’s a fire. The best route is usually the normal way in and out of your home.
If the worst happens, get everyone out as soon as possible and don’t waste time rescuing valuables. Call 999 as soon as you’re clear of the building.
If you can’t get out, put bedding around the bottom of the door to block out the smoke.
Call 999 then open the window and shout “HELP FIRE”.
If you can’t open the window, break the glass in the bottom corner and use a towel or blanket to make jagged edges safe.
Repairing fire damage
A fire can have devastating consequences. As well as risking people’s lives, property damage can be incredibly stressful and upsetting. At Sarrani, we have seen this first-hand having worked with many people whose home has been severely damaged by a fire.
To help restore fire-damaged properties as quickly and efficiently as possible, we offer a dedicated 24/7 emergency helpline and specialist services including soot and smoke decontamination, detailed assessments of damaged areas, and asbestos sampling and removal.
Our team of experts can also manage insurance claims on behalf of the property owner, so there is one less thing to worry about. Working in partnership with a skilled loss assessor, we can increase the chance of a claim being accepted and make sure homeowners receive everything they’re entitled to.
For landlords, we can also help tenants find alternative accommodation and liaise with letting agents.
A fire can make the owner feel like their home will never be the same again, but with the right support, there should be a positive outcome.
In many cases, there is the potential to reinstate a property to an even higher standard. Working with a property repairs insurance specialist like Sarrani, gives you access to design advice as well as contractors experienced in all types of building improvements ranging from kitchen refits and bathroom renovations through to roof repairs and full refurbishments.
Combining insurance repairs with private work, there is scope to redesign and reconfigure certain rooms or add new and improved features that will enhance the overall appearance of a space.
We will also oversee your project to ensure all work is carried out in accordance with the agreed schedule and relevant legislation, perform site visits when necessary, provide you with regular updates and save you an enormous amount of time and hassle dealing with insurers and contractors.
For further information on reinstating a fire damaged home, please contact us on 020 3006 3126 or email our experts at info@sarrani.com.