What is a Home Fire Safety Assessment? 

A Home Fire Safety Assessment (HFSA) is a free home visit by the Fire and Rescue Service. During the visit we will provide fire safety advice and equipment depending on risk. We’ll need to talk to householders about their health, home environment and their daily activities in order to understand their fire risk and provide the best advice for them. 

How do I make a referral for an HFSA? 

To find out whether your service user is eligible for a HFSA, click the button above and fill in the online home fire safety check. You will need the agreement of your service user to refer them to us. Ideally fill it in alongside your service user to ensure you can answer all the questions in the check.  

At the end of the check you will be provided with online fire safety advice that can be printed off and given to your service user or, if they are eligible for a visit, you will be asked to submit their and your contact details. We will then telephone you or your service user directly to arrange their HFSA. 

Want to find out more about our HFSAs?

Learn all about our HFSAs by watching the short animation below. This includes information about what an HFSA is, the benefits, who is eligible for a visit and how to make a referral.

How do you store my data?

Full details of what happens to your data and any data you provide on behalf of your service user can be viewed in our HFSA Privacy notice (internal webpage). 

Who can have an HFSA?

If your service user is a Greater Manchester resident and you or they are concerned that their physical or mental health, home environment or daily activities might increase their fire risk or reduce their chances of escape, they may be eligible for a HFSA. For example a person;

• with impaired mobility that could impact on their ability to escape
• who may be unable to hear or respond to a sounding smoke alarm
• whose drug or alcohol use could increase the risk of a fire starting and prevent their escape if a fire starts
• who smokes and lives alone with no smoke detection
• living with Dementia who may be unable to recall fire safe practices in the home
• with a very cluttered home environment which could increase the risk of a fire starting and prevent their escape if a fire starts

What if my service user is not eligible for a HFSA? 

You will be provided with personalised fire safety advice at the end of the online check, that you can email or print out and give to them. You can also direct them to read more advice on our Home Fire Safety pages. 

What if I can’t fill in the online check? 

You can telephone us on 0800 555 815 and our contact centre staff will assist you to arrange an HFSA for your service user if they are eligible for a visit.  

Will my service user get a free smoke alarm? 

If they are eligible for an HFSA, we will assess their requirements for smoke alarms during the visit and fit them for free depending on our assessment. If they are not eligible for an HFSA we strongly recommend that they buy and fit at least one smoke alarm on every floor of their home. 

How can I support my service user? 

If you wish to attend the visit with your service user, record this in the Additional Comments/Concerns box when you fill in your details on the online check.  

You can support your service users by encouraging them to follow our fire safety advice. For people who are unable to practise fire safety independently, you can work with us to identify safer solutions and support your service users to implement them at home. Such as testing their smoke alarms at least monthly for them if they are unable to do so. We recommend you include fire safety into your needs assessments and care plans. 

Is there a case study available? 

Yes, we have a case study of a Home Fire Safety Assessment (internal webpage), which was referred to us by a partner. 

Who do I contact for further information? 

For further information about working in partnership with us in your local area, contact your local Prevention Manager: 

Prevention Manager, Manchester: Melanie Kearney 
kearneym@manchesterfire.gov.uk
0161 909 0312 / 07734 275703

Prevention Manager, Salford: Andy Pownall 
pownalla@manchesterfire.gov.uk 
0161 609 0212 / 07977 410605

Prevention Manager, Bolton and Wigan: Derek Dempster
dempsterd@manchesterfire.gov.uk
01204 902112 / 07734 275762

Prevention Manager, Oldham and Tameside: Andy Williams 
williamsa@manchesterfire.gov.uk
0161 909 8634 / 07812 207297

Prevention Manager, Stockport and Trafford: Louise Atkinson
atkinsonl@manchesterfire.gov.uk
07772 210774

Prevention Manager, Bury and Rochdale: Liz Hinchcliffe
elizabeth.hinchcliffe@manchesterfire.gov.uk 
07580 698644

Do you offer any partner training? 

If you would like to talk to us about home fire safety training for your staff, please visit Fire Safety in the Home Training (internal webpage).

How do I keep informed about fire safety? 

You can sign up to our Fire Safety newsletter (external website) to keep informed about our work and our latest safety advice.  

How do I request fire safety leaflets? 

We have a selection of fire safety leaflets available on our website to print (internal webpage). If you would prefer printed copies to distribute to your service users, please email preventioneducation@manchesterfire.gov.uk. There are also several Fire Kills leaflets (internal webpage) available to download in other languages.  

During a HFSA your service users will be provided with leaflets that are relevant to their fire risk. If the visit is conducted via telephone these will posted.