Use cases
Your situation,
the right steps.
Fire safety looks different for a family home, a rented flat, a small shop or a house near the forest. Pick yours and get the guides, tools and first actions that matter for it.
In a real fire, get out first and call your local emergency number. This site is for learning and preparation — it never replaces emergency services.
Step 1 · Who are you?
Pick the situation closest to yours
We'll show the risks that matter most, a short list to do this week, and where to go next.
Your situation
Family home
More people, more rooms and more to remember. The aim is that everyone — including children — knows the sound of the alarm and two ways out.
Risks to focus on
Do this week
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Your situation
Renter or flat
Shared corridors and a single staircase mean your escape depends on keeping common areas clear and knowing the building's fire plan.
Risks to focus on
Do this week
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Your situation
Small business
Legal duties apply: risk assessment, a fire warden, tested alarms, a written evacuation plan and staff training.
Risks to focus on
Do this week
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Your situation
Landlord
Landlords have legal duties for smoke and CO alarms, safe furnishings, escape routes and gas and electrical safety.
Risks to focus on
Do this week
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Your situation
Near wildland
Living near grass, scrub or forest means fire can arrive fast. Defensible space, a go-bag and an early decision to leave save lives.
Risks to focus on
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Your situation
Teacher or group
You are responsible for a group that may not know the building. A clear briefing, a roll call and a named deputy are your three essentials.
Risks to focus on
Do this week
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Step 2 · When does it matter?
Moments that matter
Fire risk rises at predictable times. Each moment comes with three quick actions.
Heating season starts
- Keep heaters a metre from anything that burns
- Have chimneys and boilers checked
- Never dry clothes on heaters
Decorations and candles
- Water real trees daily
- Switch off lights at night
- Never leave candles burning in an empty room
Hot, dry, windy days
- Follow local burn bans
- Keep barbecues away from walls and fences
- Check fire-danger ratings before outdoor work
Barbecues and camping
- Never use a barbecue indoors or in a tent
- Keep water or sand nearby
- Make sure coals are cold before leaving
Moving into a new home
- Test or fit alarms on day one
- Find two ways out of every room
- Locate the gas and electricity shut-offs
Charging e-bikes and scooters
- Use the charger made for the battery
- Don't charge overnight or by the exit
- Stop using batteries that swell, smell or get hot
Cooking for a crowd
- Stay in the kitchen while frying
- Keep a lid or fire blanket in reach
- Keep children out of the cooking zone
Someone at home needs help
- Plan who helps them get out
- Put their bedroom near an exit if possible
- Consider alarms with lights or vibration
Step 3 · See why it matters
One pan fire, two endings
The same moment in the same kitchen. The difference is what was prepared beforehand.
Oil in a pan catches fire
A pan is left for a moment and the oil ignites.
The smoke alarm sounds
It was tested last month, so it works first time.
Heat off, lid on
The lid is kept beside the hob. They turn off the heat and slide it over the pan. No water.
Everyone else goes outside
The family knows the plan and meets at the front gate.
Pan left to cool
They wait before lifting the lid, and call the fire service to check if unsure.
Oil in a pan catches fire
A pan is left for a moment and the oil ignites.
No alarm sounds
The alarm battery ran out months ago and was never replaced.
Water thrown on the pan
A violent steam explosion sprays burning oil across the kitchen.
Fire spreads rapidly
Burning oil hits the curtains. The room fills with smoke within seconds.
Family wakes to heavy smoke
No plan, no agreed exit. Confusion costs critical seconds.
Illustrative scenario, not a real event. Timings are examples only — real fires can grow much faster.
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Use cases FAQ
Common questions about fire safety in real situations
Install working smoke alarms on every level and test them monthly. According to USFA statistics, roughly three out of five home fire deaths occur in properties with no smoke alarm or with an alarm that did not work. After alarms, practise a two-exit escape plan with every household member at least twice a year.
Under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022, landlords must install a smoke alarm on every storey, a CO alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, and ensure both are working at the start of each tenancy. The HMO Management Regulations and local fire-risk assessment requirements also apply to houses in multiple occupation.
Do not investigate. Wake everyone in the property, close doors behind you as you leave, and escape using your planned route. If the communal corridor is smoke-filled, stay in your flat, close the door, seal gaps with towels and call 999 (UK) or 911 (US) from a window. Follow the building's "stay put" or "evacuate" policy — check this with your building manager in advance.
CAL FIRE recommends a 30-foot (Zone 1) cleared buffer and a 30–100-foot (Zone 2) reduced-fuel zone around structures in California. The NFPA Firewise program provides similar guidance. Specific requirements vary by state and local ordinance — always check your local fire agency.
In the UK, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires every employer to carry out a fire-risk assessment, implement measures to reduce risk, provide alarms and extinguishers, and train staff. In the US, OSHA's fire safety standards (29 CFR 1910.38) require an emergency action plan and fire prevention plan for most workplaces.