Ensure the only inferno is at the disco by keeping your home safe from fires.

Domestic fires are much more common than you think. There are over 50,000 fires in British homes every year. That’s around 140 fires a day. And sadly nine people die a week as a result. Don’t become a statistic by keeping you and your loved ones fire safe.

A smoke alarm goes a long way to saving lives and possible damage to your home. Put one on each floor preferably on the ceiling and around a foot away from the wall. Avoid them going off accidentally by not putting them in the kitchen or bathroom itself but choose a spot nearby. It’s a sound investment when you consider that the average house fire costs £21,500 and a basic smoke alarm costs just £5. But remember the job is only half done after you've installed it. Make sure you check that the battery and vacuum clean it regularly as having one which doesn’t work is as good as not having one at all. You’re much more likely to escape a fire unharmed if you prepare for it.

In case of fire…make sure you have plan.

Just as drills are organised in the work place and procedures are detailed on the back of hotel room doors it's important to organise one for your home too.

Follow these procedures set out by the government initiative ‘Fire kills you can prevent it’ campaign.

Make a plan – Talk through the escape procedure with everyone in the house which should go along the lines of:

1. Alerting everyone of the fire
2. Not wasting time by investigating the fire, going back for valuables or looking for pets.
3. Only opening doors you need to and closing ones which are open. Check doors aren't hot by feeling them with the back of your hand first. If they’re warm it means a fire is on the other side.
4. If there’s smoke, crawling on the floor
5. Calling 999 and speaking slowly and clearly as you give your whole address.
6. Not going back in – even if there’s a person inside. Wait until the fire brigade get there as they’ll be able to find them much quicker without putting more lives in greater danger.
7. Finding somewhere safe to wait.

Choose an escape route. The best way is your normal route in and out of the house. Think of how you can make this route easier to negotiate if you had to do it in the middle of the night. Also think of a backup route in case the first one is blocked. Keep keys for windows and doors in easy-to-find places so no one's trapped or left hunting for keys at the crucial moment.

Know the drill – go through the plan with everyone and have it written up. Put it on the fridge or on the back of the toilet door so everyone can become familiar with what to do.

Find out more about fire safety by logging on to www.firekills.gov.uk or www.london-fire.gov.uk