Home fires

Kitchen

• Cooking oils and fats: overheated oil can ignite in seconds
• Distraction: leaving the hob unattended is the number one cause of kitchen fires
• Flammable items near heat: towels, paper, plastic bags left too close to the burner
• Faulty appliances: old toasters, fryers, and microwaves with worn wiring

Heating

• Fireplaces: sparks, blocked chimneys, ash disposal
• Portable space heaters: too close to curtains, furniture or bedding
• Carbon monoxide: poorly ventilated gas or wood-burning heaters
• Braziers (braseiras): common in rural Portugal, responsible for many winter deaths from CO poisoning

Electrical

• Overloaded circuits: too many appliances on a single socket
• Daisy-chained extension leads: plugging one extension into another creates a serious fire risk
• Old wiring: many older Portuguese homes still have aluminium wiring from the 1960s-70s
• Unattended charging: phones and devices left charging on beds or sofas

Smoke detectors

• Install on every level of your home, especially near bedrooms and the kitchen
• Test monthly: press the test button to check the alarm sounds
• Replace batteries at least once a year (or use 10-year sealed units)
• Replace the entire detector every 10 years
• Portuguese law: smoke detectors are mandatory in all new buildings since 2008 (Decree-Law 220/2008)

General prevention

• Never leave cooking unattended. If you must leave the kitchen, turn off the hob
• Keep a fire blanket within reach in the kitchen
• Have your chimney cleaned at least once a year by a qualified professional
• Check electrical installations: hire a certified electrician for older homes
• Don't smoke in bed. Carelessly discarded cigarettes are a leading cause of fatal fires
• Store flammable liquids (petrol, solvents) outside the home in well-ventilated areas

Create your plan

• Draw a floor plan of your home showing all rooms, doors and windows
• Identify 2 exits from every room (typically door + window)
• Choose an outdoor meeting point where everyone gathers after escaping (e.g. a neighbour's letterbox)
• Assign responsibilities: who helps children, elderly or people with reduced mobility

Practise regularly

• Drill at least twice a year, once during the day and once at night
• Time your escape: aim to get everyone out in under 2 minutes
• Practise crawling low under smoke (smoke rises, cleaner air is near the floor)
• Teach children: never hide under beds or in wardrobes during a fire
• Practise with closed doors: feel the door with the back of your hand before opening

ABC fire extinguisher

A 6 kg ABC powder extinguisher is suitable for most home fires. Remember the PASS method:

• Pull the pin
• Aim at the base of the fire
• Squeeze the handle
• Sweep from side to side

Important: only attempt to fight a fire if it is small, contained, and you have a clear exit behind you. If in doubt, leave immediately.

Fire blanket

• Ideal for kitchen fires, especially burning oil or fat
• How to use: pull the blanket from its case, hold by the top edge, and place gently over the flames
• Leave in place for at least 15 minutes to let the pan cool
• Do NOT lift the blanket to check. Re-ignition can occur
• Mount near the kitchen but not directly above the cooker

Fireplace

• Use a fireguard to prevent sparks escaping
• Annual chimney cleaning: creosote build-up is a common cause of chimney fires
• Ash disposal: place ashes in a metal container with a lid, away from the house. Ashes can remain hot for over 24 hours
• Never burn treated wood, painted furniture, or rubbish

Radiators and heaters

• Keep at least 1 metre from curtains, furniture and bedding
• Never dry clothes on or near a heater
• Turn off before sleeping or leaving the house
• Use a timer if available
• Check the plug and cable regularly for signs of damage or overheating

Braziers

• Ventilation is essential: always leave a window slightly open when using a brazier indoors
• Carbon monoxide (CO) is odourless and colourless. It kills silently
• Symptoms of CO poisoning: headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, loss of consciousness
• Install a CO detector if you use any combustion-based heating
• Never use a brazier in a bedroom or while sleeping

Avoid electrical fires

• Never daisy-chain extensions: plugging one extension lead into another overloads the circuit
• One plug per socket is the safest approach. Use multi-socket adaptors with surge protection if needed
• Check your circuit breakers: test the residual current device (RCD) quarterly by pressing the test button
• Replace frayed or damaged cables immediately

Warning signs

• Warm or discoloured sockets: a sign of overloading or faulty wiring
• Burning smell from an appliance or socket
• Frequent tripping of circuit breakers
• Flickering lights: may indicate loose connections
• If you notice any of these, unplug the appliance and consult a certified electrician

Immediate safety

• Do not re-enter the building until firefighters have declared it safe
• Beware of structural damage: weakened floors, ceilings and stairs
• Watch for hot spots: fire can smoulder inside walls and reignite hours later
• Ventilate thoroughly before spending time inside
• Do not reconnect electricity or gas until a professional has inspected the installations

Recovery

• Document all damage with photographs and video before cleaning up
• Contact your insurance company within the policy deadline (typically 8 days in Portugal)
• Keep receipts for any emergency accommodation or replacement items
• Check structural safety with an engineer before reoccupying
• Seek support: your local council (junta de freguesia) may provide temporary housing or financial assistance