Take ten minutes to protect your home and loved ones from fire

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Half of fatal house fires are in homes with no working smoke alarms

It could take just ten minutes to keep your home and your family safe from fire – that’s the New Year message from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS).

Residents across Greater Manchester can now access a new Online Home Fire Safety Check tool online, where you can complete a home fire safety check to help identify fire hazards in your home and get advice on simple changes you can make to reduce the risk of a fire.

The free online assessment tool, which takes between 10 and 15 minutes to complete, will give you personalised advice by taking you through your home one room at a time and asking simple questions to help you spot fire risks as you go.

Paul Duggan, Head of Prevention said: “Half of fatal house fires are in homes with no working smoke alarms, with smoking the main cause of fire deaths. Cooking fires also account for most incidents our firefighters attend in the home.

“By taking the time to complete our new online fire safety check, residents can take simple steps to keep themselves, their loved ones and their home safe from fire. Ten minutes is just a small sacrifice compared to the potential lifetime of heartache an accidental house fire can cause.

“Make it your New Year’s Resolution – go to our website and do the online fire safety check today.”

The easy-to-follow tool will also tell you if you’re eligible for a Home Fire Safety Assessment. This will involve a visit from local firefighters or prevention advisors and means the Service can prioritise face-to-face visits with the most vulnerable residents.

Mr Duggan added: “As set out in our Fire Plan, launched last year, this new tool will help us target our face-to-face fire prevention work, to ensure our most vulnerable residents are protected and get the support they need to stay safe from fire.”

Once you have completed the online check, your answers will help the fire service to decide if you need a Home Fire Safety Assessment. 

If you do, you’ll be asked to complete and submit an online referral form and the Contact Centre will contact you to make an appointment for a face-to-face visit, carried out by local firefighters or prevention staff.

If you are unable to access the online tool, you can contact the service by phone on 0800 555 815. 

Find out more and access the Online Home Fire Safety Check at manchesterfire.gov.uk/your-safety/hfsa/