Fire safety tips 12 min read

Fire safety tips for homes, kitchens, offices, shops and factories, from India's fire services

Updated October 2026By Flamekite Editorial DeskFacts checked against official sources on 29 October 2026

Fire safety tips from Indian fire services for homes, LPG, wiring, offices, shops and factories, each sourced. 60% of 2024's 5,888 fire deaths were in homes.

Fire deaths in homes, 2024: 60.4%; 3,555 of 5,888 (NCRB); The numbers
Fire service number: 101; Or 112, the single emergency number; Who to call
LPG hose life: 5 years; Fire-retardant Suraksha hose; LPG tips
Mock drills for shops and offices: Twice a year; At least, per TNFRS; Workplace tips

Quick answer

The fire safety tips India's fire services repeat most: do not overload sockets or extension boards, use ISI-marked wiring and appliances of the right rating, keep the LPG cylinder upright and below the stove and check leaks only with soap solution, never leave cooking unattended, keep stairs, corridors and exits clear, keep an extinguisher or buckets of water or sand ready, and dial 101 or 112 at once in a fire (Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services; PMUY LPG guidance; Manipur SDMA).

Homes are where most people die: 3,555 of India's 5,888 fire deaths in 2024, 60.4%, happened in residential buildings (NCRB). Offices, shops and factories add three more rules: periodic electrical audits, no goods stacked near panels or escape routes, and mock drills at least twice a year.

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Fire safety tips at a glance: 10 rules from fire services

The ten precautions official advisories repeat most, with the advisory each comes from.
What	The rule	Source
Sockets	Do not plug too many appliances into one socket or run several high-load appliances on one extension board	TNFRS
Wiring	Use only ISI-marked electrical equipment of the correct rating; no loose connections or damaged wires	TNFRS
Circuit protection	Breakers, earth-leakage devices, switches and fuses rated for the circuit; faulty appliances repaired or replaced at once	Assam FES
LPG cylinder	Upright, below the level of the stove, never in a pit or closed cabinet; leaks checked only with soap solution	PMUY LPG guidance
Cooking	Never leave cooking unattended; keep curtains away from the stove, sockets and diyas	TNFRS
Exits	Keep balconies, corridors, staircases and exits free of clutter and building roads clear for fire engines	TNFRS
Smoking	Use ashtrays and never throw away a lit cigarette end carelessly	Assam FES
First aid for fire	Keep buckets of water or sand, a blanket and an extinguisher that is refilled on time	Manipur SDMA
Fire systems	Never paint detectors or sprinkler heads, never disable alarms, and use only qualified contractors to service them	Assam FES
In a fire	Dial 101 or 112, leave by a known route, stay low under smoke, and meet at a safe place	Manipur SDMA

Fire safety tips by place: home, office, shop and factory

The main risk each official advisory names for each kind of premises, and its top precautions.
Option	Main risk named	Top precautions	Advisory	Source
Home	Overloaded sockets, ACs and coolers running long hours	Load within capacity; ISI-marked fittings; switch off unused appliances	TNFRS residential summer advisory	TNFRS
Kitchen	LPG leaks and unattended cooking	Cylinder upright and below the stove; soap test; regulator off after use	PMUY LPG consumer guidance	PMUY LPG guidance
Office	Electrical panels, server rooms and DG sets	Ventilate and protect them; periodic electrical audits; train staff	TNFRS commercial summer advisory	TNFRS
Shop or market	Stock stacked near panels and exits	Keep goods off escape routes; flammables within limits; exits lit and marked	TNFRS commercial summer advisory	TNFRS
Factory	Welding, cutting and flammable liquids	Hot work under strict supervision; no more than 20 litres of low flash point liquid in a workroom	Assam FES; DGOSH Model Rule 68	Assam FES
Hospital	Electrical load in ICUs and oxygen	Load audits twice a year; no smoking or heat near oxygen; one high-power device per circuit	MoHFW and NDMA advisory, 2024	Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and NDMA
Restaurant or nightclub	Locked back doors and crowds	Exits unlocked and clear, lit exit signs and emergency lighting	Goa SDMA advisory, 2025	Goa DIP release

What to do in a fire: 8 steps, before, during and after

Before: learn two ways out
Know at least two escape routes from your home or floor and keep both free of obstacles (Manipur SDMA).
Raise the alarm
Shout, press the nearest call point, and call 101 or 112 at once; no one should delay that call (NBC 2016 Annex D-2).
Fight it only if it is small
Tackle only a fire that has just started, with an extinguisher whose label matches it; near live electrical equipment use only units marked for it, such as CO2 or powder (IS 2190:2024 cl. 6.3.7).
Switch off and get out
Unplug or switch off appliances if it is safe, and leave by the stairs, never a lift.
Stay low in smoke
If trapped, sit or lie near the floor, breathe through a wet cloth, block smoke under the door and look for an exit (Manipur SDMA).
If clothes catch fire
Stop, drop and roll; wrap the person in a blanket until the flames are out (Manipur SDMA).
Meet and count
Go to the agreed safe place outside and check everyone is there; never go back in.
After: treat burns gently
Do not pull off burnt clothing unless it comes away easily and do not put adhesive dressings on burns; get medical help (Manipur SDMA).

Fire safety tips at home: 10 checks

From Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services' residential advisory and Manipur SDMA. Homes account for 60.4% of India's fire deaths.

Inspect wiring and big appliances regularly: air conditioners, coolers and refrigerators. TNFRS
Keep the home's electrical load within its capacity, and do not place AC compressors close together. TNFRS
Use only ISI-marked switches, wires and appliances of the correct rating. TNFRS
Do not charge phones or devices overnight unattended. TNFRS
Keep curtains and hanging cloth away from sockets, diyas, candles and incense sticks. TNFRS
Do not store kerosene, petrol or firecrackers inside the house. TNFRS
Keep buckets of water or sand, a blanket and an extinguisher, and refill the extinguisher on time. Manipur SDMA
Teach every family member to dial 101 or 112. TNFRS
Keep balconies, corridors and stairs free of clutter, and the building's access road clear for fire engines. TNFRS
Get the premises fire audited and fix loose connections; never keep combustibles near loose wires. Manipur SDMA

LPG safety tips: dos and don'ts for the kitchen

From the consumer guidance on the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana site of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Do

Keep the cylinder upright, and the stove on a platform above the cylinder. PMUY LPG guidance
Replace a rubber tube with a fire-retardant Suraksha hose, which has a life of 5 years. PMUY LPG guidance
Strike the match first, then open the burner knob. PMUY LPG guidance
Turn the regulator to OFF when you finish cooking, and fit the safety cap on the valve when the cylinder is not connected. PMUY LPG guidance
If you smell gas: close the burner knobs and regulator, put out all flames, open doors and windows and call your distributor. PMUY LPG guidance

Don’t

Check for a leak with a lit match; use soap solution, and only on the cylinder body and bung. PMUY LPG guidance
Touch electrical switches when you smell gas. PMUY LPG guidance
Keep the cylinder in a pit below floor level or inside a closed compartment. PMUY LPG guidance
Connect or disconnect a cylinder with pooja lamps or incense sticks burning. PMUY LPG guidance
Repair the regulator or hose yourself, or leave vessels unattended on a lit burner. PMUY LPG guidance

Electrical fire safety tips: warning signs and the fix

Short circuits and overloads are the cause fire services warn about most, especially in summer.

If Several high-load appliances on one extension board.
Spread the load across circuits; temporary or makeshift connections are out (TNFRS). TNFRS
If Sparks, a burning smell or a hot switch or plug.
Switch off and get it repaired at once; never ignore sparks, short circuits or overheating (TNFRS). TNFRS
If A breaker or fuse rated higher than the wire it protects.
Fit breakers, earth-leakage devices and fuses of the correct rating for the circuit (Assam FES). Assam FES
If An inverter battery in a closed cupboard.
Give it ventilation and check it for overheating (TNFRS). TNFRS
If A hospital adds ICU equipment to an old floor.
Audit the electrical load twice a year and whenever new equipment arrives (MoHFW and NDMA, 2024). Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and NDMA

Fire safety tips for offices, shops and factories

What the commercial and factory advisories add for workplaces. A fire NOC or audit may ask for more.

IfYou run an office or institution
Keep fire systems working and serviced, run periodic fire and electrical audits, train employees, and hold mock drills at least twice a year (TNFRS). Fire safety training TNFRS
IfYou run a shop or market stall
Keep stock away from electrical panels and escape routes, flammable goods within permitted limits, and exits lit and marked (TNFRS). Fire NOC for Shop TNFRS
IfYou run a factory or workshop
Supervise every welding or cutting job and keep low flash point liquids in a workroom to no more than 20 litres, the rest in a fire-resisting store. Factories DGOSH Model Rules
IfYou run a restaurant or bar
Keep emergency exits unlocked and clear during service, with lit exit signs and emergency lighting (Goa SDMA). Restaurants and cafes Goa DIP release
IfYour building has detectors or sprinklers
Never paint over detectors or sprinkler heads, never switch the system off, and use only qualified contractors to service it (Assam FES). Fire AMC Assam FES
IfYou are making changes to the building
Do not make structural changes that affect fire safety without authorisation, and keep fire water storage accessible (TNFRS). Do I need a fire NOC? TNFRS

Fire accidents in India in numbers: why these tips matter

NCRB's Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2024, as states reported them.

5,971
Fire accidents recorded in 2024 NCRB ADSI 2024
5,888
People who died in them NCRB ADSI 2024
3,555
Deaths in residential buildings NCRB ADSI 2024
60.4 %
Share of fire deaths that happened in homes NCRB ADSI 2024
15.4 %
Fall in recorded fire accidents from 2023's 7,054 NCRB ADSI 2024

Seasonal fire safety tips: summer, festivals and every month

Fire risk follows the calendar. What the advisories ask at each point.

Before summer (March)
Service transformers, DG sets and air conditioning, and check the building's load balance; peak cooling load causes overheating (TNFRS). TNFRS
Peak summer (April to June)
Inspect more often, switch off unused appliances in the heat of the day, and never burn waste inside residential premises (TNFRS). TNFRS
Diwali and festivals
Do not burst crackers in crowded places, narrow lanes or indoors, and never cover them with tins or bottles; avoid loose, long clothes (Manipur SDMA). Manipur SDMA
Every month
Empty waste bins regularly, keep smoke and fire check doors shut, and check the fire equipment (Assam FES). Assam FES
Twice a year
Hold a mock drill in offices, shops and institutions (TNFRS). TNFRS

Fire safety myths that cause fires

Four common beliefs, set against what the advisories say.

You may have read
A lit match is the quickest way to find a gas leak.
Myth
What the sources say
Never: use soap solution on the cylinder body and bung, or feel for pressure at the valve with your thumb (PMUY guidance). PMUY LPG guidance
You may have read
Laying the cylinder on its side gives more gas.
Myth
What the sources say
A cylinder upright is a cylinder right: keep it upright, below the stove level. PMUY LPG guidance
You may have read
Fire safety is the building manager's job.
Myth
What the sources say
Assam's fire service lists "don't think fire safety is others' job" among its don'ts; every occupant has a role. Assam FES
You may have read
Painting a sprinkler head to match the ceiling is harmless.
Myth
What the sources say
Paint can stop it opening; never paint detectors or sprinkler heads (Assam FES). Assam FES

Fire safety tips applied: 4 everyday situations

What the advisories tell you to do when it happens.

Case 1
You smell gas when you walk into the kitchen
A flat with an LPG cylinder under the counter.
What applies Do not touch switches. Close the burner knobs and turn the regulator off, put out flames, open doors and windows, and call the distributor; if it persists, detach the regulator and fit the safety cap. PMUY LPG guidance
Case 2
A child's clothes catch fire from a diya
A festival evening at home.
What applies Stop, drop and roll; wrap the child in a blanket until the flames are out; do not pull off burnt clothing unless it comes away easily and do not use adhesive dressings. Manipur SDMA
Case 3
The office extension board feels hot
Four computers, a heater and a kettle on one board.
What applies Switch off and spread the load; do not overload circuits or use temporary wiring, and get the wiring checked. TNFRS
Case 4
Cartons stacked in a shop's back corridor
A ground-floor shop before a sale.
What applies Move them: goods may not be stacked near electrical panels or escape routes, and exits stay clear, lit and marked. TNFRS

Who to call in a fire in India

Keep these numbers where everyone can see them; commercial premises must display them.

Fire
101
The fire service number across India, or the special fire number for your town (Manipur SDMA). Manipur SDMA
Any emergency
112
The single emergency number, which Tamil Nadu's fire service asks families to know with 101. TNFRS
Gas leak
Your LPG distributor
Call the distributor or its emergency service cell if the gas smell persists after you shut the regulator. PMUY LPG guidance
Shops and offices
Display the numbers
TNFRS asks commercial premises to display emergency contact numbers prominently. TNFRS

Questions about fire safety tips

What are the most important fire safety tips at home?

Do not overload sockets, use ISI-marked wiring and appliances, never leave cooking unattended, keep the LPG cylinder upright and below the stove, keep stairs and corridors clear, keep water or sand and an extinguisher ready, and know to dial 101 or 112.

What are fire safety tips for the workplace?

Keep fire systems working, run periodic fire and electrical audits, train employees, keep exits lit and clear, keep goods away from panels and escape routes, and hold mock drills at least twice a year (Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services).

What should I do if I smell LPG gas?

Do not operate electrical switches. Close the burner knobs and the regulator, put out all flames, open doors and windows, and call your gas distributor. Never check for a leak with a flame.

What are the fire safety tips before, during and after a fire?

Before: learn two escape routes and keep them clear. During: raise the alarm, call 101 or 112, leave by the stairs and stay low in smoke. After: meet at a safe place, never go back in, and treat burns without pulling off stuck clothing.

How do I prevent electrical fires?

Keep the load within capacity, use correctly rated ISI-marked fittings and breakers, avoid temporary wiring and crowded extension boards, repair faulty appliances at once and never ignore sparks or overheating.

What fire safety tips apply in summer?

Fire services warn that cooling loads overheat wiring: balance the load, service ACs, transformers and DG sets, switch off unused appliances, do not charge devices unattended overnight, and keep LPG cylinders out of confined spaces.

What is the fire brigade number in India?

101 for the fire service, or 112, the single emergency number.

Where do most fire deaths happen in India?

In homes: 3,555 of the 5,888 fire deaths NCRB recorded in 2024, or 60.4%, were in residential buildings.

Keep reading

Fire safety equipment listWhat your building must have, by height.
Fire evacuation planHow to plan the way out.
Fire safety trainingDrills and who must train staff.
Fire extinguisher types and usesWhich extinguisher for which fire.
Fire accidents in India: dataNCRB figures by state and place.
Fire NOC checkerDoes your building need a fire NOC?

Sources

Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Flamekite checks its sources

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Fire safety tips at a glance: 10 rules from fire services

Fire safety tips by place: home, office, shop and factory

What to do in a fire: 8 steps, before, during and after

Before: learn two ways out

Raise the alarm

Fight it only if it is small

Switch off and get out

Stay low in smoke

If clothes catch fire

Meet and count

After: treat burns gently