Home Fire Safety

The best way to keep Londoners safe from fire is to help you understand common risks and reduce them in your home.

Most fires at home start accidentally – and the effects can be devastating. A fire detection system (that's smoke and heat alarms to most of us!) provides an early warning – and time to escape – that really does save lives.

What can the London Fire Brigade offer?

  • Personalised fire safety advice
  • Fire safety action plans to improve the safety of your home
  • Free installation of smoke alarms

Very Brief Intervention

Ask

Do you have working smoke alarms in your property?

  • Explain that having working smoke alarms is the easiest way of giving residents within the property the earliest possible warning of fire.
  • Explain that smoke alarms should be fitted in any room where a fire could start.
  • Explain that regularly testing your alarms is just as important as having them (this should be done at least monthly).

Did you know London Fire Brigade offer a range of advice, including an online Home Fire Safety Checker?

  • They can also visit you at home and fit smoke alarms free of charge, which is targeted at those most vulnerable to fire.

Would you like some further information on how you can prevent fires in your home?

Assist

Would you like to know more about the support London Fire Brigade can offer?

London Fire Brigade will offer anyone who lives in London a free Home Fire Safety Visit but we try to target those most vulnerable to fire. If you aren’t sure if you require a visit but would like personalised advice, you can use our Home Fire Safety Checker. There is also a wealth of information on our website.

Who might benefit from a face to face visit?
If you know or work directly with anyone who would answer yes to two or more of the following statements, please give them our details to arrange a free Home Fire Safety Visit – if they prefer, you are able to organise a visit on their behalf.

Has an increased risk to fire
• Smokes in their home
• Electrical sockets are overloaded or there are signs of unsafe wiring
• Unsafe use of candles or naked flames
• Cooking is often left unattended.

Less able to react
• The property has no working smoke alarms installed
• Alcohol dependency or drug misuse
• Mental health conditions such as dementia or learning difficulties
• Physical health issues including sensory impairments e.g.; hearing or sight

Reduced ability to escape
• Reduced mobility due to a physical disability, age-related problems or as a result of a long-term illness
• Escape routes are not kept clear or are blocked due to actions such as hoarding
• Conditions that affect decision making

If there are any signs of hoarding, or any signs of a previous fire (even if it went unreported) the person would benefit from a face to face visit.

Act

Would you like to access the support described?

If possible, look at our Home Fire Safety Checker to understand what actions would be best to support this person:

Check the safety of your home using our Home Fire Safety Checker.

  • With access to a device, the person is able to undertake the Home Fire Safety Checker themselves, with family members, or you are able to do it with them.

Alternatively, if the person is vulnerable to fire and you think would benefit from a face to face visit:

  • Book a free in person Home Fire Safety Visit at our website or contact us using the methods below:
  • call us free on 0800 028 4428
  • email smokealarms@london-fire.gov.uk
  • text/SMS 07860 021 319

Self Care (and caring for others)

  • Take a look at our Home Fire Safety Checker or the advice on our website.
  • Follow the tailor-made action plan from the Home Fire Safety Checker.
  • Make sure you have working alarms in all areas where a fire could start and test them regularly.
  • Make sure everyone in your home knows your escape plan in the event of a fire and that it's regularly practiced
  • If you know of any anyone that would benefit from similar support, please let them know about our Home Fire Safety Checker.