Fire at home: what to do

Your life first. Things can be replaced.

The answer in 2 lines. If there is a fire, your priority is to get out, stay out and call 999, not to save your belongings. Close the door of the room on fire behind you to slow the smoke. Never go back in. In a flat, follow your building's fire plan: if the fire is not in your flat and you are told to "stay put", stay inside with the door shut and call 999. A working smoke alarm on every level of your home is what wakes you if a fire starts at night.

If there is a fire now

Shout "Fire!" and get everyone out, without stopping for belongings. Close doors behind you.
Once outside, call 999 and ask for the fire service. Give your full address.
Stay out. Never go back in for anything, including pets: tell the firefighters instead.

Stop: danger

Smoke kills more than flames: it is toxic and can knock you out in minutes. Crawl low where the air is clearer.
Never throw water on a pan of burning oil: it causes a fireball.
Do not use the lift during a fire.
Do not go into a smoke-filled stairwell or corridor.
Never go back into a burning home.

If the fire is in your home

Get everyone out by your planned escape route. Feel doors with the back of your hand before opening: if warm, do not open, the fire is on the other side.
Close the door of the room on fire and any doors behind you.
If you cannot get out: go into a room with a window, close the door, put towels or bedding along the bottom, open the window and call 999. Shout for help.

If you live in a flat

Know your building's fire plan: some blocks have a "stay put" policy, others a simultaneous evacuation. Ask your landlord or building manager.

Fire in your flat: get out, close the door behind you, use the stairs, call 999.
Fire elsewhere in the building: follow the building's plan. If you stay in, keep the door shut, put towels along the bottom, call 999 and tell them where you are. If smoke or heat reaches your flat, get out if it is safe to do so.

Pan or chip pan fire: never water

Turn off the heat, only if it is safe to do so.
Do not move the pan and do not throw water on it.
If it does not go out by itself, or you cannot turn off the heat: get out, close the kitchen door, call 999. Fire services advise not to tackle the fire yourself.

What not to do

Leaving cooking unattended, especially with oil.
Overloading sockets or extension leads, or leaving chargers running overnight on a bed or sofa.
Smoking in bed, or leaving candles unattended.

Good to know

Test your smoke alarms once a month, and have at least one on every level of your home.
Plan an escape route with everyone at home, and keep door and window keys where you can find them in the dark.
Many fire and rescue services offer free home fire safety visits: check your local service's website. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own fire services; the advice is the same.

After the fire

Do not go back in until the fire service says it is safe.
Call your home insurer as soon as you can; take photos when it is safe.
If you rent, tell your landlord. If you cannot stay in your home, contact your local council's housing team.

The figures

The latest official figures for England cover the year ending March 2026 (published on GOV.UK in 2026). Because we could not confirm the exact numbers for this guide, we do not quote them here: see "Fire and rescue incident statistics, year ending March 2026" on GOV.UK.

In Liverpool, Grace's smoke alarm goes off at 2am. There is smoke coming from the living room. She wakes her two children, closes the living room door, and they leave by the front door in their pyjamas. From the pavement she calls 999. The firefighters put out the fire, caused by a phone charger left on the sofa.

A made-up story, for illustration.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on 18 October 2026, for England. Confidence: high for the steps (get out, stay out, call 999; no water on a pan fire); medium for flats, since each building has its own fire plan. National figures are not quoted. This guide describes common cases, not a diagnosis.