What to do if there's a fire in your home

See what steps to take if there's a fire in your home. Find out what to do if your planned escape route is blocked.

If a fire starts in your house, get out, stay out and call out the fire service.

If you call 999, give the operator:

What you need to do when a fire starts

Everyone in your house needs to know what to do if a fire occurs.

If you hear a smoke alarm or discover a fire:

try not to panic
tell everyone in the house
use your pre-planned escape route to get everyone out of the building as quickly as possible. Use our escape plan tool.
smoke rises, so stay low or crawl on the floor in the cleaner air where it's easier to breathe
do not stop to collect any valuables or possessions
do not stop to look for pets
if possible, close the door to the room where the fire is located and close all doors behind you as you leave (to delay the spread of fire and smoke)
before opening a closed door, touch it with the back of your hand; do not open it if it feels warm - the fire will be on the other side

Do not go back into the building:

find somewhere safe near the building and wait for the fire service to arrive
if someone is still inside the building, tell the fire service and give details
by going back into the building, you'll prevent the fire service from doing what they need to do and put your own life at risk too