Knowing how to react when a fire breaks out can be life-saving. The shock and fear of finding a fire has started can leave some of us shocked, and delayed reactions can mean the difference between getting out safely or otherwise. The key is to remain calm, and arm yourself with knowledge so that you can be better prepared.

In this blog entry, we are offering you tips on how to prevent fires in the first place, what to do if you find a fire has broken out and what you can do after.

Cooking is the number one source of house fires, followed by heating appliances and finally electronics. Create a set of house rules, and if you manage a property ensure the correct fire prevention training is carried out. As a guide, we’ve compiled a list of safety precautions you can take to prevent a fire in the first place:

• Install and check smoke alarms monthly
• Never leave candles unattended and preferably burn them at least 12 inches away from other objects
• If you burn candles, do so on an inflammable surface
• Never leave stoves unattended
• Do not store cooking oil near gas stoves
• Do not place objects on top of radiators or electric heaters
• Unplug small appliances when you are not using them
• Don’t leave cables with a live current touching other objects (phone chargers left plugged in with the USB on the bed, for example)

If we are talking about a commercial property, there should be a formal protocol in place for fire prevention. For homeowners, we recommend reading further fire prevention tips and to teach children from a young age about these.

Recently, one of Superdry’s staff had an incident where a quick reaction was vital. She was making breakfast – toast, in an electric toaster. While she went to do something else, the toaster caught fire. Upon smelling the burnt toast, she rushed into the kitchen and was greeted with flames almost a meter high. Luckily, there was time to react.

She could reach the plug socket safely, so she unplugged the appliance as she ran the faucet. Next, while the flames were still growing, she soaked some kitchen towels into the water and threw them over the flaming toaster – now unplugged – to try to suffocate the flames. Unfortunately, they were too big, so she managed to grasp the appliance with other objects and plunge the toaster into the basin full of water.

In this instance, disaster was averted, but what do you do if the fire isn’t manageable? We recommend that you make a mental note of the location of fire extinguishers within the property you live or work, and also check you know how to use them in case of a fire.

Remember, there are different types of extinguishers for different types of fire. If you are unsure about the source of the fire, you should try to get out as soon as possible rather than tackle it.

• Stay as close to the ground as possible as you exit the building
• If doors are hot but there is no visible fire, it could be that the fire is on the other side of the door. Try to find a different exit.
• If you open doors to escape, try your best to close them after, as this can help slow the spread of the fire
• Make sure you have an evacuation plan and all the members of your household know it, even the children
• If you are trapped in a room, close the doors and ideally place wet around the foot of the door. Open the window of the room you are in and call for help. You can also wave bed linen or other cloth out of the window to signal for help.

The aftermath can be heartbreaking, even if there is no loss of life or serious injury. What hasn’t been damaged by the fire could be damaged by the smoke, as it is very invasive and can penetrate the smallest of orifices. Plug sockets, bathroom drains and fabrics may be particularly affected.

It is important to place this restoration in the hands of professionals, because they will be able to accurately assess and remedy the damage caused by the fire. Remember the importance of boarding up the property to prevent unwanted exposure and more stress at an already difficult time.