Fire Safety
Protect your family - make and print out a Fire Action Plan for your home today with our interactive Fire Action Planner.
Safety Routines
Click here for simple routines that will help keep your family, your home and yourself safe from fire.
Chimney Fires
In 2005, there were 1,456 chimney fires in Scotland!
Soot and un-burnt particles of fuel build up in chimneys over time. Eventually, they will catch fire. Call 999 straight away - it’s a myth the Fire Service will charge you for a call out.
Why are Chimney Fires Dangerous?
The chimney could send an avalanche of burning soot into your living room. If there are any cracks or defects in the lining of your chimney, it could start fires on other floors of the house.
Unless you’ve had one, you won’t believe the mess a chimney fire causes - even if it doesn’t burn the house down.
Signs of a chimney fire:
- burning particles falling out of the chimney
- a roaring sound in the chimney
- chimney breast too hot to touch
- hot walls in upstairs rooms
- sparks or flames coming out at the top
What to do
- put the guard up
- get everyone out safe
- call 999
- if it’s safe to do so, douse the fire in the hearth with water
- try to cut off the air supply at the bottom - close all vents, block the fireplace with metal plate if you have one