Winter is a time where we all snuggle up in front of the fire, turn on some extra heating around the home and look forward to putting on our cosy pyjamas. This time of year can also open our homes up to more winter fire hazards than usual. So, this year, make sure you have two winter lists – your list for creating a cosy home and your home fire safety checklist. We’ve compiled some important fire safety tips you can put into practice:
Electrical
Many of us have probably already taken our electric blankets out of the cupboard this winter. It’s important you switch off your electric blanket before going to sleep. Only leave it turned on if it has thermostatic controls which are safe for all-night use. If any of the wires seem damaged or worn, replace the electric blanket.
In Ireland during 2019, 184 house fires were caused by electrical equipment.1 To safeguard you and your home make sure that you don’t:
- Overload your plug sockets.
- Plug an extension lead into another extension lead. Make sure to check the rating of your extension leads before use; most will be ‘13A’ which means it cannot handle more than 13 amps or 3000 watts of power at a time.
- Leave lamps and electrical appliances plugged in overnight.
Cooking
Cooking was the source of 224 house fires in 20192, with most of these occurring during the winter period. During this time of year, we’re all using our ovens and stoves more often. Pots and pans can very easily overheat if left unattended on the hob, so if you must leave the room, be sure to turn the heat off and move the pot or pan to a heat resistant surface. Remember to always keep the area around your cooker completely free from combustible items such as napkins, tea towels and food packaging when cooking.
In the event of a grease fire, never attempt to extinguish it with water. Water and oil don’t mix - the water will sink to the bottom of the pan and evaporate straight away whilst causing the burning grease to disperse and spread – instead use a fire blanket to smother the flames.
Fireplaces and chimneys
If you have an open fire be sure to have your chimney cleaned and inspected at least once a year. In 2019 there were 2,137 fires caused by chimneys in Ireland.3 Ensure stoves and boilers are serviced regularly by a professional.
Candles
There are so many smells that we associate with winter, fresh fig, cinnamon and spiced quince. And it has become increasingly popular to use scented candles in our homes all year round. It’s very easy to forget to blow out candles, especially at night-time. A simple alternative are LED tea lights.
Why not use our tips to find alternative ways to make your home cosy?
Smoking
According to the Irish Times and the Department of the Environment4, cigarettes cause a quarter of all house fires in Ireland. If you do smoke, try to do so outside because smouldering cigarette butts are extremely dangerous if left near flammable surfaces. Alternatively, keep some water in your ashtrays to ensure the cigarette butts are fully extinguished.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
It’s so important that you have a smoke alarm on each floor of your home, and that you check them regularly. Every home should also have at least one fire extinguisher rated for all fire types (look for A-B-C rating on the label).
If you have a fuel-burning appliance, including an open fire, make sure to have a carbon monoxide alarm installed. You should have one in every room that contains a stove or open fire.
Be sure to take a look at our guide to carbon monoxide and your home for more safety tips.
Family
Make sure to keep lighters and matches well out of reach of children and teach them about fire safety. Create a safety and escape plan for the family to follow in the event of a fire. Make sure that family members know how to use a fire extinguisher and fire blanket.
Once you take all the necessary steps to keep your home safe from fire this winter, you can further protect your home’s security. Check out our top tips to keep your home safe from burglars this winter.
Did you know with Aviva home insurance, we offer a 12.5% alarm discount to your premium – the alarm simply needs to be installed and maintained in accordance with manufacturer's guidelines.
We encourage our customers, where possible, to make use of our online options to access any help you need. If you have a query you can reach us via our contact forms. MyAviva is an online self-service portal available to all our home and car insurance customers.
