Recently, one of our customers had a fire at their home. Thankfully it was quickly put out, but it still caused damage to their wooden fence and outside doors. It was a scary reminder of how important it is to keep our homes and gardens safe from fire.

Put It Out, Right Out

Did you know that cigarettes cause over 2,800 fires every year in the UK? They’re also the biggest cause of fire deaths in the home. Cigarettes are designed to burn at very high temperatures – over 700 degrees – and they don’t go out easily. Even when you think they’re finished, they can carry on smouldering and start a fire on clothing, furniture or even outside near sheds and fences.

We’ve reported previously in Community Matters, about the dangers of smoking and cheaper, yet fake and illegal cigarettes which miss a safety feature that normal cigarettes have, so they don’t go out by themselves if not actively smoked.

The safest thing you can do is make sure every cigarette is completely out. As the saying goes: put it out, right out. Never leave one burning in an ashtray or throw it away before you’re sure it’s properly extinguished.

Keep Storage Away From Your Home

Many of us keep sheds or storage boxes in the garden. These often hold things like paint, petrol for lawnmowers, gas bottles for barbeques and other flammable items. But if a fire starts near them, they can make it much worse very quickly.

To keep your home safe, sheds or storage containers should be six metres away from your property. This simple step can make a big difference if a fire ever breaks out.

Staying Safe Together

We all want to feel safe in our homes, and with just a little extra care, many fires can be prevented. If you smoke, please take an extra moment to put your cigarette out properly. If you have storage near your home, think about whether it’s too close to the building.

By making a few small changes, we can all help protect each other as well as our homes, our neighbours and our community.