Electrical fire safety week: protect your home and loved ones

Even more alarming, nine out of ten of these fires start from faulty electrical products. As a homeowner, keeping your family safe is a top priority, which is why Electrical Fire Safety Week (November 11th–17th) is the perfect time to ensure your home is protected from electrical fire risks. 

Supported by Electrical Safety First, the Home Office, and UK Fire and Rescue Services, this awareness campaign is designed to educate families on the dangers of electrical fires and provide simple steps to reduce the risk. Here’s how you can help protect your home and loved ones from a devastating fire. 

Top Electrical Fire Safety Tips for Families

Follow these easy tips from Electrical Safety First to cut down the risk of an electrical fire in your home:

Keep electrical appliances clean

Regularly clean your electrical appliances and make sure they’re in good working order. Dust and debris can trigger electrical fires, especially in kitchens.

Avoid charging on beds

Never charge phones, laptops, or other devices on soft surfaces like beds or sofas. Always charge them on a hard, flat, non-flammable surface to reduce fire risk.

Don’t overload plugs

Plugging too many devices into one socket or extension lead can lead to overheating. Use plugs responsibly to avoid overloading your circuits.

Keep workstations tidy

Avoid placing hot or cold drinks near plug sockets or electrical items. Spills can cause short circuits or damage your devices, increasing fire risk.

Don’t “daisy chain” extension leads

Using multiple extension leads together is a major fire hazard. If your cable doesn’t reach, move closer to the socket or use a single, longer lead.

Fit working smoke and heat alarms

To detect an electrical fire quickly, ensure you have working smoke and heat alarms throughout your home. Remember, you’re 10 times more likely to die in a fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm.

Did you know?

• Cooking appliances are the main cause of house fires.
• Smoking causes around 5 accidental fires in homes every day.
• Faulty electrical appliances lead to over 3,500 home fires each year.
• Candles are responsible for nearly 3 accidental fires in homes every day.

Test your smoke alarms monthly

Make sure your smoke alarms are functioning by testing them at least once a month. And remember, never install a smoke alarm in the kitchen or bathroom—opt for a heat alarm in those areas instead.

For more tips on how to stay safe from electrical fires, visit the Electrical Safety First website. Also, check out our range of smoke and heat alarms designed to help keep your family protected.