Although our first heatwave seems to have passed, we’re rushing into the summer holidays and more opportunities to get outside and – hopefully – enjoy the sunshine! However, we know that with more time in the heat there are increased risks to our health, and our homes. We’re sharing some top tips on fire safety in the summer.
In your home
Battery check
Make sure you’ve tested your fire alarms recently, and if you notice that it needs new batteries, don’t delay in replacing them. It’s also worth having a conversation with everyone who lives in your home about what to do in the case of a fire – especially if you’ve got children or teens at home more often during the school holidays. Let us know if anyone lives in your home that would struggle to escape in the event of a fire, due to mobility issues or for other reasons, so we can keep in touch with the fire service and make sure they know they might need to help.
Check your chargers
Make sure you’re using approved, appropriate chargers for things like mobile phones and tablets, vapes and e-cigarettes and any other devices in your home. Don’t leave things charging overnight or unattended, and make sure your devices aren’t overheating when they’re plugged in.
It’s also important to check your extension cables for any signs of damage such as smoke marks or sparks, and to make sure you’re not ‘daisy chaining’ to extend the range of your cables.
If you have fans or portable air conditioning units please make sure they’re turned off when you leave your home.
Out of your home
Protect the countryside
When the sun’s out it can be tempting to get out into the wide open spaces and enjoy the countryside – but please leave the burgers at home and pack yourself a picnic to take with you. Disposable barbecues can easily set light to dry grass and overhanging trees, which can spread quickly and be catastrophic to wildlife, as well as a huge danger to life and property. It’s important to also make sure cigarettes are fully extinguished before disposal, and take your rubbish home with you.
Barbecue safely
If you’re firing up the barbie at home, make sure you’re safely away from any overhanging branches, pet enclosures or dry grass. Never use petrol or accelerants to boost your BBQ, and never leave it unattended. If you’re using a disposable barbecue, make sure it’s placed on a hard, fire-proof surface. Don’t throw your coals away until they’re cooled down, and keep a bucket of water nearby in case things get out of hand.
You should never use a barbecue indoors, or on a balcony.
Keep children and pets away from the barbecue at all times.
Caravans and camping
Remember we do not allow caravans to be kept on driveways, in gardens or in communal spaces, for fire safety reasons.
