As winter approaches and temperatures fall, the heating will come back on in homes across Berkshire. However, keeping your home warm shouldn’t come at the expense of your safety.
That’s why Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is asking residents across the county to take a few simple precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones this winter.
David Crease, Area Manager Prevention and Protection at RBFRS, said: “Keeping warm at home should not put your safety at risk. Taking extra care this winter can prevent a fire from starting in your home.
“When using electric products to stay warm this winter, such as electric heaters and electric blankets, it’s very important to unplug them before going to bed and leaving them unattended.”
In 2024/25, there were 41 accidental electrical dwelling fires in Berkshire. Across England, there were over 13,500. Many heating elements, such as electric blankets and electric heaters, are potential causes of ignition if damaged or misused.
David continued: “If you prefer to use gas or paraffin heaters, make sure you are only using them in properly ventilated areas where there is a working carbon monoxide alarm.
“Finally, make sure your chimney is ready for action before you start using it. Get it swept by a qualified chimney sweep and make sure that, when you start to use it, you only use the correct time of fuel for your fireplace.”
In 2025/26, there were over 1,660 chimney fires in England, with 42 percent of them occurring between January and March. Making sure your chimney is swept and maintained can help prevent a chimney fire in your home.
Follow this advice to prevent a fire from breaking out in your home this November.
Heating Safely
- Keep chimneys and flues clean and well maintained. This must be done by a registered and qualified professional.
- Be careful when using open fires to keep warm – make sure you always use a fireguard to protect against flying sparks.
- Make sure hot embers are under control and properly extinguished before going to bed or leaving the property.
- Always unplug electric heaters when going to bed or leaving the property.
- Keep heaters away from curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes.
- Only use gas or paraffin heaters in well-ventilated areas and always have a working carbon monoxide detector in place.
- Never use hot water bottles in the same bed as an electric blanket, even if switched off.
- Always unplug electric blankets before going to bed, unless it has a thermostat control for safe all-night use.
Electrical Safety
- Unplug electrical appliances and chargers when you’re not using them and when you go out or go to bed.
- Look out for signs of dangerous or loose wiring e.g. scorch marks, hot plugs and sockets, flickering lights, fuses that blow or circuit breakers that trip for no obvious reason.
- Avoid overloading sockets – keep to one plug per socket – and never ‘daisy chain’ extension cables.
- Always use a charger supplied with the device or recommended by the manufacturer – using any charger other than the one intended for the battery can increase the risk of damage.
- Don’t dispose of damaged or end of life batteries in your household waste or normal recycling. Ensure that you dispose of them properly at designated battery disposal banks. Find your nearest battery recycle point on the Recycle Your Electricals website.
Emollients
- Emollient users should avoid flames and heat – keep fabrics contaminated with emollient residue away from naked flames, cigarettes, and other heat sources.
- Never smoke in bed if you use emollient products.
- Do not smoke if there is any chance your clothing or dressings could be contaminated with the residue of these products.
- Don’t cook with gas or electric hobs if there is any chance your clothing or dressings could be contaminated with the residue of these products.
- Do not sit too close to any open fires, gas fires or halogen heaters.
- Wash your clothing and bedding daily at the highest temperature recommended by the fabric care instructions. This should reduce some of the contamination but will not remove it completely, and so washing fabrics does not completely remove the fire risk.
Be Prepared
- Test your smoke alarms regularly and make sure there is at least one on every level of your home.
- Never leave lit candles unattended – always extinguish them before leaving a room or going to sleep – and keep them away from flammable materials.
- Keep escape routes clear and free of clutter, and make sure everyone in your household knows what to do in the event of a fire.
- Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide alarm in your home, especially in rooms with gas appliances.
- Take the time to check in on vulnerable neighbours and relatives who may be more at risk of fires in their homes.
For more information on how to keep your home safe and heated this winter, visit the Service’s website.