Skip to main content
Accessibility Tool
  • Zoom in
  • Zoom out
  • Reset
  • Contrast
  • Accessibility help
Home

Website header menu

  • Join Essex Fire
  • Request a home safety visit
  • Contact us
Menu Close
  • Home
  • About us
    Back
    About us
    • How we respond to keep Essex safe
    • Our strategies, plans and reports
    • Service Leadership Team
    • Our Fire Stations
    • Accessibility statement
    • Safeguarding statement
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Financial information
    • Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex
  • Join Essex Fire
  • Safety advice
  • Education
    Back
    Education
    • Education Programmes
    • Education Hub
    • Fire Cadets
    • Fire Safety Intervention
    • FireBreak
    • Activities for Children
  • Incidents
  • News
  • The Essex Fire Museum
  • Contact us
    Back
    Contact us
    • Contact our Service
    • Compliments and Complaints
    • Incident Reports

Website header menu

  • Join Essex Fire
  • Request a home safety visit
  • Contact us
Events and Open Days

Events and Open Days

Find out more
Save Safely

Save Safely

Fires cost. At best it’s smoke damage and a new appliance, at worst it’s your house or even your life. Here are our best tips to save money while staying safe at the same time. 

The cost of living is rising and people are…

Find out more
Summer Safety

Summer Safety

Summer is a busy period for our fire service so we're giving our best advice to help prevent incidents and help everyone to stay safe this summer.  

Our fire service usually sees a rise in wildfires in the summer and…

Find out more

Welcome to our new website. We welcome your feedback.

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
Dad and two young boys sat on a wooden floor, looking at a book together

Safety Advice for Parents and Guardians

Children are naturally fascinated by fire. We're urging parents and guardians to take fire safety precautions with younger children and to educate older children about fire safety.

Did you know that 1,200 children under the age of 11 are injured and 35 are killed in fires in the home in the UK every year?

To help keep your children safe from fire, we recommend that you:

  • Don't let children play or leave toys near a fire or heater

  • Put a childproof fireguard in front of any open fires or heaters

  • Keep your escape route clear of toys and other obstructions

  • Place candles and tealights in holders, where children cannot reach them

  • Never leave children on their own in a room where there is a fire risk

  • Keep matches and lighters where children cannot see or reach them

  • Teach children not to put anything into the holes of sockets or extension leads, and consider installing plug guards if necessary

  • Keep portable heaters in a safe place where they can't be knocked over 

  • Never leave children alone in the kitchen when you're cooking 

  • Put child locks on cupboards containing anything that could be used to start a fire (e.g. matches, candles, fireworks flammable liquids etc.)

Plan your escape route

Escape Plan
Learn more about planning an escape route
A well-practised escape route plan could help save your life if a fire starts in your home.

Visit out Education Hub

Education Officer standing by a projector in front of primary school children in blue uniform. One boy has raised his hand
Learn about fire safety!
We've got a selection of educational lessons and videos available for children of all ages.

Online Home Safety Check

A laptop with the online home fire safety check page open
Start your check
Complete the online home safety check to evaluate your own fire risk at home.

Fire Service Intervention

Firefighters and a fire station
Find out more
Our Fire Safety Intervention Scheme is a free service that aims to deter children from becoming involved with further fire-setting behaviour.
Stay connected

Sign up to receive news and updates from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

Did you find this page useful?

  • Yes
  • No
Online Home Safety Check
Find out more
Book a Home Safety Visit
Find out more
Fire Safety Intervention
Find out more

Footer

  • Compliments and Complaints
  • Incident Reports
  • Staff Email access
  • Retired Members Association

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters

Kelvedon Park
Rivenhall
Witham
Essex
CM8 3HB

Emergencies: 999

HQ Tel: 01376 576000 HQ

Tel: 0300 3035555

Fax: 01376 570466

Do not report emergencies to our HQ. To report an emergency please call 999.

Request a fire report or make a Freedom of Information request here

Make compliments and complaints here

Connect with us

  • Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin

Armed Forces Covenant logoInclusive Employers Standard logo

Footer bottom

  • Accessibility statement
  • Safeguarding statement
  • Cookies policy
  • Privacy Notice