Electricity and Fire Safety

Electricity and electrical appliances are unfortunately at the heart of many of the fire disasters that we encounter every week.

You want your home to be a safe environment, and whilst terrible accidents can happen, there are precautions you can take to make your home the safe haven it should be.

Our electrical appliances, from fridges to mobile phone chargers, can be the cause of many fires. Here are some key measures you can take to ensure your home is safe.

For a complete electrical safety checklist, follow this link to the government's Don't Give Fire a Home website.

Plug-In Safely

Sockets should never be overloaded with too many high wattage appliances. This interactive resource shows you how to work out which appliances can safely be used on a multi-socket adaptor.

Remember that any electrical appliance that is left plugged in can cause a fire, so make sure you unplug appliances when you're not using them. This will save you money on your electric bills as well as protecting your home from fire.

Check the mains wiring in your house

A qualified electrician should check the mains wiring in your house at least once every ten years, so you should always keep a record of when this was last done.

If you rent your house and you're unsure about when it was last checked, we advise you to contact your landlord.

Warning Signs

It's really important to keep a look out for any signs of danger around your house. Spotting something early on could be enough to prevent a fire.

If you ever smell hot plastic or burning near a socket, or if you see sparks or smoke, then you should switch everything off at the mains in the consumer unit (or fuse box) beside your electricity meter.

If you're ever in any doubt

With any electrics, if you are ever unsure about what to do, or if you think there is a problem, then you should always consult a qualified electrician.