Winter is setting in so here is some advice on how to keep yourselves fire safe over the next few months.

Firstly if you have a coal or solid fuel burning fire, make sure you have the flue swept every six months, and if you’re burning logs, possibly more frequently.

We do tend to get a lot of chimney fires when the cold weather hits after the summer.

If you do have a chimney fire, place the fire guard in front of the fire and call the fire service. It’s not a good idea to try and tackle a chimney fire yourself. If the soot deposits within the fuel are considerable a fall of burning soot could and indeed has caused house fires.

A fire crew will not only extinguish the fire but also check the walls around the flue for hot spots using a thermal image camera. They will also check the integrity of the flue in the loft space. A lot of roof fires are caused by a fire breaking through a faulty flue.

We also recommend you have a carbon monoxide detector fitted. Avoid drying clothes over or in front of an open fire, this, once again, is another significant cause of fires in the home.

Another concern is electric blankets. Check that your blanket conforms to British and European safety standards and the plug is fitted with the correct fuse.

Check whether it is an under or over-blanket and use it only for that purpose. The two are quite different and should not be interchanged.

Use the ties on an under-blanket to secure it to the mattress, this prevents slipping and creasing which could damage the elements.

Never get into bed with an under-blanket switched on. Unplug it first otherwise it may overheat and catch fire, and never lie on top of an over-blanket when it’s switched on - this could also start a fire.

Keep the blanket dry and flat, folding or creasing can damage elements. If you have a space heater never sit too close, you could set light to your clothes or your chair especially if you fall asleep.

Heaters should stand where they can’t be knocked over and away from beds, furniture and furnishings. Never try to move any portable heater while it is alight - always turn it off and allow it to cool first.

Finally don’t overload electrical sockets especially with high rated appliances such as heaters.

Overloaded sockets are the second highest cause of house fires.

Remember working smoke alarms save lives. Test yours regularly.

If you require any more advice about fire safety around the home please call us on 647303.