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House fires: how to prevent them and how to prepare your family

Fire safety at home: a practical guide

⏱ 3 min read

Smoke alarm, fire blanket, way out. A guide based on official advice. The same text is in the free SurvivalZone.app and works without internet.

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Most house fires start with everyday things: a pan left on the hob, an overheating charger, a cigarette, a candle or faulty wiring. The biggest danger is smoke, which can kill at night before anyone wakes up.

A few simple devices and habits greatly reduce that risk.

A smoke alarm comes first

  1. A smoke alarm costs little and wakes people before smoke becomes deadly. Fit one on the ceiling on every floor, in the hallway by the bedrooms and ideally in every bedroom. Test it with the button once a month and replace it when the manufacturer says.
  2. If you have a boiler, fireplace or gas at home, add a carbon monoxide alarm.

Kitchen and electrics

  1. Do not leave cooking unattended. Never put water on burning oil: cover the pan with a lid or a fire blanket.
  2. Hang a fire blanket by the cooker and keep an extinguisher near the exit.
  3. Do not overload extension leads. Replace damaged cables.
  4. Charge e-scooters, e-bikes and power banks while you are around, not overnight by the front door and not on a bed.

A way out

  1. Agree two ways out of every room and a meeting place outside. Sleep with doors closed: a closed door slows smoke and fire. Keep door and window keys where you can find them in the dark.

In a block of flats

  1. Keep hallways and stairwells clear. Find out where the fire doors and hydrants are. If you see that fire doors in your building are blocked or broken, tell the building manager.

Checklist

  1. Smoke alarm on every floor and by the bedrooms
  2. Alarms tested monthly
  3. Carbon monoxide alarm if you have a boiler or gas
  4. Fire blanket in the kitchen
  5. Extinguisher by the exit
  6. Safe battery charging
  7. Two ways out and a meeting place
  8. Clear hallways and stairs

See also

Frequently asked questions

Where should I put a smoke alarm?

On the ceiling, on every floor, in the hallway by the bedrooms and ideally in every bedroom. Not right next to the cooker or in the bathroom.

How do I put out a pan of burning oil?

Never with water. Turn off the heat and cover the pan with a lid or fire blanket. If the fire spreads, get out and call 112.

Is it safe to charge an e-scooter overnight?

Better not. Lithium batteries can catch fire. Charge them while you are around, away from the exit and from flammable things.

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Sources

Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-11-04.

General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.