Home insurance: Fires

We are all aware that house fires can be not only extremely dangerous but can also cause a lot of damage to our property and possessions. You need home insurance to cover the cost of repairing or reconstructing your house if it is destroyed or damaged by a fire, but of course the worst effects of fire could be injuries or even deaths. Even if nobody is hurt, house fires can cause a lot of damage very quickly, and losing irreplaceable items like family photographs can be very upsetting.

It is unsurprising then that insurers are keen to assist customers to minimise the risk of house fires, not only because it makes sense from a business perspective but because of the high risk of death or serious injury from even a relatively minor fire.

Do ensure that smoke alarms are fitted and regularly tested. Make sure that windows that have bars can still be opened from the inside so that family members can escape in an emergency. Discuss escape plans with the family so that if a fire should occur, everyone knows what to do even if they are alone.

All furnishings and fabrics should be fire retardant. House fires in the UK are commonly started by candles, so be very careful about where they are placed and never leave a candle burning unattended.

Make sure that there is no furniture or fabric within three feet of a heater, and be careful to ensure that all heaters and open fires are inaccessible to children and pets. Dont leave appliances on standby, and never overload plugs and sockets. Regularly check cables and repair any faults, and get rid of appliances if the cable is worn or the wires exposed.

In the kitchen, prevent fat from building up in grill pans and in the oven by keeping them clean, and never throw water over a chip pan fire as this will cause the fire to spread. You can tackle small kitchen fires with a fire blanket or wet tea towel, but for a fire any larger than a wastepaper basket or if there is any risk of it spreading, evacuate the building and call the fire brigade immediately.

If you follow these simple steps then the likelihood that you will need to call your insurer to claim for fire damage will be greatly reduced. However, do not be tempted to skimp on home insurance, because the difference in cover can be great for even a small increase in premium. Weigh up the likelihood of a fire against the impact it would have on you and your family before you choose the right level of cover for you.