Smokers: The Fire Hazard in Any Room

Look, it's not our job to tell you to quit smoking; I'm sure your friends and family have already told you about the health risks. We will, however, remind you that every six days, someone dies from a fire caused by a cigarette.

The best way to reduce the risk is to make an attempt to quit. In the UK, you have the option to use NHS support if you need it. This is a privilege, and according to the WHO, counselling and medication can more than double a tobacco user's chance of successfully quitting. If you feel you have to smoke, then follow these guidelines to reduce the risk of fires through smoking:

Never smoke in bed.
Smoke outdoors and put cigarettes right out; this is safer than smoking indoors.
Use a proper ashtray—never a wastepaper basket.
Make sure your ashtray can’t tip over and is made of a material that won’t burn.
Don’t leave lit cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or their paraphanelia unattended, especially if you have children in the home.
Take extra care if you smoke when you’re tired, are taking prescription drugs, or have been drinking. You might fall asleep and set your bed or sofa on fire. Think more seriously about quitting if you are required to take medication that makes you drowsy.
Unplug e-cigarettes when fully charged, and ensure you are using the correct charger.
Never smoke illegally manufactured cigarettes. In 2009, EU laws were introduced, which meant that cigarettes, by design, must stop burning unless they are dragged. Counterfeit cigarettes often do not comply with these laws.

Hazards in the Kitchen

Cooking for family is one of life’s great joys but also a big responsibility. The most common cause of kitchen fires is unattended cooking, and grill pans or deep-fat frying with chip pans are major fire hazards. Never leave pans of any kind unattended when you’re cooking, even when on low heat. Here are some more tips for safe cooking.

We realise this is difficult for parents of young children or babies, but try to avoid cooking while tired. Part of being a good parent is having the energy to cope, so aim to keep a meal preparation schedule with your partner or take naps before meals.

Take extra care if you need to leave the kitchen while cooking; take the pans off the heat as unexpected situations can occur. Picture this scene: you go and check on a sleeping baby and realise that the nappy was not on properly and there's mess everywhere. Before you know it, you're covered with wet wipes, creams, and dirty nappies. All the while, the food cooking on the hob has been on for so long that the water has evaporated and the food is now burning.

Do not take medication or drugs that may make you drowsy before or while cooking.

Never drink and cook.

If a pan catches fire, don’t tackle it yourself or try to pick up the pan and put it outside or in the sink; you will drop it and you will be scarred for life.

Never try to throw water onto a chip pan, as this can create a fireball.

Turn off the heat if you can do so safely, then leave the room, shut the door, and call 999. In our next episode, we will explore the many kitchen activities that can start fires in daily life, but it’s important to note that virtually all cooking appliances in this room pose some kind of fire risk and should be treated carefully.

In addition, white goods, which are large appliances such as tumble dryers, washing machines, fridges, and freezers, can all cause electrical fires. There are a number of ways to mitigate the risks of these, such as cleaning them regularly, not overloading plug sockets, and doing careful research before purchasing any secondhand.

There are approximately 2000 fires per year caused by domestic electrical white goods such as dishwashers and fridge freezers in England, the equivalent of over five fires per day. It was confirmed that a fridge freezer was the initial cause of the ignition at Grenfell Tower.

Hazards in the Bathroom

The bathroom is possibly the most dangerous room in the house when it comes to electrical safety. The consequences of an electric shock are far more severe in a bathroom or shower room, as wet skin reduces the body’s resistance.

There are special requirements for electrical installations in bathrooms, as most electrical work must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations.

Sockets are not allowed in bathrooms or shower rooms (apart from shaver-supply units) unless they can be fitted at least three metres from the bath or shower.

Electrical shaver points must be a safe distance (in metres) from the bath or shower to avoid splashes.

Enclosed ceiling lights are preferable to the ones that hang down.

All light fittings that are not enclosed should be out of reach of someone using, or still wet from using, the bath or shower.

Everyday light switches are a danger because of dampness and wet hands. A ceiling-mounted pull-cord switch is the safest option.

Central heating is the safest way to keep a bathroom warm. But if you do have an electric heater, it must be fixed at a safe distance from the bath or shower.

Electric and gas water heaters in a bathroom must be fixed and permanently wired, unless they are powered by a socket fitted three metres from a bath or shower.

A pull-cord or switch outside the bathroom is the ideal way to control electric heaters.

Showers: An electric shower must be supplied on its own circuit, directly from your fuse box.

Portable electrical appliances: Never bring mains-powered portable appliances such as hairdryers, heaters, or radios into a bathroom. You could be severely injured or killed.

Don’t light candles in the bathroom. They’re romantic but also dangerous when unattended or if you fall asleep in the bath, especially if your bathroom is wallpapered. And as we’ve touched on interiors, it’s worth noting that tiles and PVC wall coverings are the safest.

Ideally, you shouldn’t have any electrical outlets in your bathroom at all, as water conducts electricity. Some bathrooms have electric razor outlets with two pins, but these are a special kind of outlet specifically designed to resist shorting by water. If you have regular outlets in your bathroom, consider hiring a professional to have them removed immediately. They could be unsafe and potentially illegal.

Remove extractor fan debris. If you use a fan, it’s very safe, but it's worth periodically disassembling it, cleaning out any buildup of flammable material, and then replacing it.

Hazards in the Bedroom

Bedroom fire hazards are very common, and paying attention to details big and small can ensure your family sleeps safely.

Try not to use candles in the bedroom. If you must, make sure it’s kept away from the curtains, bedsheers, clothes, etc., and put them out before you get sleepy.

Most fires in the home are somehow electrical. In the bedroom, overloaded electrical circuits, faulty electrical equipment, and misuse of electrical equipment are common causes.

The following fire safety tips are recommended:

Never run extension cords under carpets or rugs. Localised heating may cause a short circuit that could result in a fire.
Replace any frayed or cracked extension cords.
Repair or discard malfunctioning electrical appliances immediately.
Replacement fuses must be of the correct load capacity for the circuit. A qualified electrician should identify the cause of repeatedly blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers.
Install earth leakage circuit breakers on all power circuits for additional life safety protection.
Turn the power off at the power point for electrical equipment that does not require a power supply when not in use.
Provide adequate ventilation around all electrical equipment to avoid excessive heat buildup.

Take extra precautions when using space heaters; do not put anything on top of them; and keep flammable materials away from them.

Use battery-operated alarm clocks, and try to charge items during the day when you’re around to keep an eye on them. Fit bedside lamps with a compact fluorescent bulb. Don’t put material over lamps.

Electric blankets need extra care to avoid shocks, fire, and possibly even death. Most accidents are caused by misuse or by blankets that are worn and old and have not been checked regularly. Leave your blanket on the bed; never fold it for storage, as it may cause damage to the wiring. Make sure your blanket is flat and tied firmly to the bed. Never sleep with your electric blanket turned on, or leave it on when you’re not at home.

Run your hands over the blanket regularly, and if you find any hot spots, turn the blanket off and have it checked. Do not place heavy objects on your electric blanket. Always read and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Never use an electric blanket with a water bed. Never place a baby on an electric blanket; they can dehydrate and get burns at fairly low temperatures.

Living Room Fire Hazards

Most living rooms contain a considerable amount of electrical equipment, as well as flammable furniture and interiors, candles, and perhaps even a working fireplace. Smoking is perhaps most likely to take place here, so the smoking precautions we’ve been through are a top priority. Here are some other tips for spotting living room hazards and protecting your home.

Ensure that living room candles are kept in proper, fire-safe containers and on a heat-resistant surface where they can be easily knocked over. Keep them away from drafts.

Ensure that they are not left where children or pets can get to them and that there is nothing combustible in the range above and around the candle. Never put lit candles on top of electrical equipment, especially the television. Never move a candle when it is lit; put it out and allow it to cool down first.

Both electrical and working fireplaces can be beautiful, but they come with safety responsibilities. Never use petrol or similar substances to light a fire in your home; only burn suitable materials. Any room with a fireplace must be properly ventilated. Always place an effective, proper-fitting spark guard in front of open fires. Keep the area around the fireplace clear of anything flammable. Keep chimneys and flues clean and well-maintained by a specialist.

Common-sense choices in this room can save lives. A mirror over the fireplace, for example, is a very common decorative idea that should be avoided, as it encourages people to stand too close to the fire. Never dry wet clothes by the fire or let children hold marshmallows or other food close to it. Children ought to be kept away from the fireplace, generally. Hot ashes should be disposed of carefully and not put into plastic bins while still hot.

Never overload electric sockets. If you need more electric sockets, have an electrician install more. Make sure that you use the correct fuses in your appliances. Unplug all unnecessary electrical appliances at night. If electrical equipment is designed to be on all night, install a smoke alarm in the room.

How can I identify and mitigate fire risks in my home (Part Two)?

Smoking, cooking, and other vulnerabilities.