Fire Kills is a UK government public-safety campaign website focused on reducing deaths and injuries from fires in the home by promoting: better smoke-alarm coverage (“more smoke alarms in more places”), fire-risk prevention at home, and escape planning and practice.
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Fire Kills
General Information
The Fire Kills campaign (UK) aims to reduce deaths and injuries from home fires by promoting prevention, early detection, and escape plans. The focus is on increasing the number and proper placement of smoke detectors (including interconnected ones) and improving safe behaviors at home. It offers practical advice on common risks and what to do in the event of a fire. It focuses on vulnerable groups (elderly, disabled, and hearing-impaired) and provides information on possible local home fire safety visits. It is primarily a household-level information and prevention initiative, rather than a formal disaster risk management plan.
The site states that around 200 people are killed each year in home fires in England, and that in more than a third of home fires smoke did not reach a smoke alarm in time to raise the alert—highlighting a detection/coverage gap and the need for faster warning and preparedness
Hazard Type
Geographical Scope - Nuts
Population Size
Population Density
Needs Addressed
- Insufficient or poorly placed smoke alarms (smoke not reaching an alarm quickly enough).
Fire Kills. - Preventable household fire causes and hazards (e.g., cooking, electrical faults, smoking materials, candles).
- Lack of a practiced household escape plan, despite fires spreading quickly and toxic smoke overcoming people in minutes.
- Older people (reduced mobility/sight/hearing can affect detection and escape).
- People with disabilities (physical, sensory or learning disabilities; specialist alarms and personalised planning).
- Situations involving drugs or alcohol (impaired reactions; higher likelihood of smoking/cooking-related fires).
- Young people living independently (less awareness of risks; advice on alarms and safer cooking).
- Young children in the household (specific guidance on practising escape plans with children).
- People who are deaf or hard of hearing (strobe/vibrating-pad alarms; RNID contact line provided).
The linked Fire England information explains that fire and rescue delivery is managed locally and overseen by a fire and rescue authority, with overall responsibility varying by area (e.g., Mayor, County Council, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, or a body of local councillors).
Basic preparedness (household-level) with clear instructions for activating an organised emergency response (call 999 after escaping). The campaign primarily focuses on prevention, detection and household escape planning, rather than describing a formal multi-hazard disaster risk management plan.
The campaign’s readiness measures centre on household safety infrastructure, including:
- Smoke alarms: at least one on every level; additional alarms in bedrooms; correct placement (hallways/landings), and monthly testing.
- Heat alarm in kitchens (to avoid false alarms from steam/smoke).
- Interlinked alarms (so all sound together).
- CO alarms for carbon monoxide risk awareness.
- Escape-route readiness: exits kept clear, keys accessible, meeting point agreed, plan practised (including at night).
To encourage residents to increase early detection via better alarm coverage, reduce preventable ignition risks in the home, improve preparedness and safe behaviour during a fire (escape planning, “get out, stay out, call 999”).
- Public information website sections: Detection, Prevention, Escape.
- Signposting to local fire and rescue services for advice and visits.
Fire Kills - Free home fire safety visits (where offered locally).
- Free online home fire safety check tool (linked from the site).
Low (informative/behavior change): citizens do not participate in project decisions or governance; they receive guidelines and recommendations and can take action at home (installing/testing alarms, preparing escape plans, reducing risks). Home fire safety visits provide personalized advice, but decision-making remains with the relevant institutions/services.
Moderate (focused on practical household skills): the project aims to strengthen people's ability to prevent home fires and manage emergencies over time with stable behaviors and routines (monthly alarm testing, maintenance, escape plan, and rehearsals). However, no real structured capacity building (certified training, ongoing programs, community leadership development) has emerged: therefore, long-term empowerment is primarily individual/family empowerment, not community or system empowerment.
Vulnerable Groups
Governance
Emergency Preparedness
Infrastructure Readiness
Engagement Level
Empowerment Level
Implementation
- Strong emphasis on coverage (not just having alarms, but having enough in the right places).
- Promotion of interlinked alarms and Telecare linkage where relevant.
- Tailored options for accessibility (e.g., strobe/vibration alarms, assistive equipment, personal evacuation planning).
- Practical “do-this-now” escape planning steps (routes, exits, keys, meeting point, practice).
English
INFO NOT AVAILABLE (the site does not outline a project management implementation plan).
Household action steps promoted by the campaign include installing alarms, testing monthly, reducing common hazards, and creating/practising an escape plan.
- Home Office (UK): Has ministerial/policy responsibility for fire and rescue policy in England (and therefore has experience in governance and policy on fire prevention and response at the national level).
- Government Digital Service (GDS): Is the "digital center of government," i.e., the unit that sets up and implements digital services for the government (experience in designing/managing platforms and digital communication on GOV.UK).
- Fire & Rescue Services / Fire & Rescue Authorities (local): These are the operational actors with legal responsibilities for fire prevention, extinguishing, rescue (e.g., road accidents), risk assessment and reduction, and response to other emergencies. Many services also offer home fire safety visits with advice and, sometimes, equipment (e.g., alarms).
- RNID: Is the national charity for people who are deaf/hard of hearing/tinnitus, with experience in information and support, as well as in services/training to improve accessibility (useful when discussing alarms and solutions for the hearing impaired).
- NHS (Stop Smoking Services): Offers local services with expert counselors and proven methods for quitting smoking; evaluations show that they are effective even in the medium term (important because smoking is a risk factor for home fires).
- Qualified/Registered Electricians (industry): Technical expertise in electrical system safety; using registered/qualified professionals is recommended because domestic electrical work is high risk if performed incorrectly.
- Gas Safe Register / Gas Safe Technicians: This is the official registration body; by law, anyone working on gas systems must be registered, and the register also provides for inspections/monitoring of competence and safety.
- Home Office and GDS (site/platform).
- Local fire and rescue services (advice, visits, alarm fitting where offered).
- RNID (information line for deaf/hard-of-hearing alarm options).
- NHS support (mentioned in smoking-risk reduction advice).
- Qualified electricians (for mains-powered alarm installation).
- Gas Safe registered engineers (boiler servicing advice)
INFO NOT AVAILABLE.
The website does not describe a formal implementation sequence (phases, milestones, operational governance). But you can include: alarm installation/positioning, monthly testing and maintenance, reduction of key home risks, preparation and testing of the escape plan, and request for a home fire safety visit where available.
The resources for households include:
- Smoke alarms (including 10-year sealed battery options), potential mains-powered alarms, and interlinked alarms.
- Optional heat alarms (kitchen) and CO alarms.
- Time/attention to test alarms monthly and maintain/replace batteries/units.
- Support resources: home fire safety visits and online home fire safety check
Campaign timeframe/phases: INFO NOT AVAILABLE, but you need ongoing household maintenance cycles: test monthly, replace 1-year batteries annually, replace 10-year sealed alarms every ten years (and alarms may have an expiry date).
Experience of the Implementing Organisation in DRM
Target Audience
Resources Required
Timeframe & Phases
Participation Results
INFO NOT AVAILABLE, but based on the information we found, we can say that results improve when messages are few, clear, and repetitive, with immediate practical advice. It's not enough to "have an alert": placing enough of them in the right places and testing them regularly makes a difference. Adherence increases if the required actions are simple (checklists, maintenance reminders, and deadlines). Effectiveness increases with tailored interventions for those most at risk (hearing loss, reduced mobility, etc.). Maximum impact is achieved by connecting information to local support, which helps transform advice into behavior.
INFO NOT AVAILABLE (no implementation challenges are described as a project).
The site focuses on household fire risks and mitigation actions, including:
- Cooking fires: don’t leave cooking unattended; keep flammables away; clean grease build-up; avoid cooking when tired/drinking.
- Electrical faults/overloading: avoid overloading sockets; check/replace damaged cables; use qualified electricians in older properties.
- Smoking materials: use ashtrays; never smoke in bed; extra caution with alcohol; consider quitting support.
- Candles/heating: never leave unattended; keep away from curtains/furniture; don’t dry clothes on heaters; service boilers; install CO alarm near gas appliances.
- If a fire occurs: get out, stay out, call 999; don’t collect belongings; close doors; crawl low under smoke; don’t use lifts in flats; never go back inside.
Risk & Mitigation Plan
Scalability and Sustainability
INFO NOT AVAILABLE
INFO NOT AVAILABLE
Observation based on the type of intervention (not stated on the website): As a digital information campaign on prevention and home safety, it is potentially replicable in other areas if certain local elements are adapted (emergency number, alarm regulations/standards, housing types, language and references to local emergency services, specific instructions for vulnerable groups).
The project leverages home security technologies for early warning: smoke and heat detectors, interconnected options to sound all alarms simultaneously, and accessible solutions for the hearing impaired (light/vibration signals). The possibility of connecting to Telecare systems is also mentioned.
INFO NOT AVAILABLE
INFO NOT AVAILABLE
A key lesson is that simply "having" an alarm isn't enough: it's crucial to place enough of them in the right places, because coverage and positioning determine whether the alarm sounds in time. What works best is what's easy to maintain on a daily basis (regular testing, reminders, clear instructions) and what reduces practical barriers, for example, correctly distinguishing between smoke and kitchen alarms. The impact increases when information isn't just theoretical but is accompanied by personalized support (advice/visits), and when measures are tailored to the most vulnerable groups (hearing loss, reduced mobility, age). Finally, keeping the escape plan short and repeatable really helps: under stress, knowing what to do and doing it automatically makes all the difference.