Action Sheet — After the fire
The fire-prevention round-up: the 24 hours that (really do) save your home
Most ‘abandoned’ houses burn down AFTER the fire front has passed — caused by an embers left in a gutter, a smouldering tree stump, or a pile of wood that flares up again at 3 am. A methodical patrol every 2–3 hours for 24 to 48 hours prevents this from happening.
Key points
- Frequency: every 2–3 hours for 24 hours, then morning and evening for 48 hours — including nights.
- The route: gutters, corners of the roof, the loft (the smell!), hedges, tree stumps, woodpiles, the shed, the compost bin.
- We SMOTHER every hot spot — a ‘crushed’ ember reignites, a smothered ember dies out.
- Heat felt when touching a wall or an attic wall = 18 immediately.
Equipment: buckets or a hose/motorised pump · head torch · gloves and sturdy shoes · FFP2 face mask · rake or spade
Why it’s important
An ember buried in the litter or lodged in a roof valley smoulders for hours: a gust of wind in the night stirs it to life when everyone is asleep and the emergency services have been called away to other incidents. Firefighters call these the replays — every year, they destroy houses that had ‘held out’. The fire also spreads underground via the roots and re-emerges metres away from where it was last seen, sometimes two days later. The circle is the tangible manifestation of the First steps to take after a fire.
How to do it, step by step
Make sure you’re properly kitted out before you head out
Thick soles (for hot embers on the ground), gloves, FFP2 masks (for fly ash), a head torch at night, and your fire-extinguishing equipment: buckets filled in advance, a pressurised hose or motor pump on the reservoir if the network is down.
ALWAYS follow the same route
Following a set route helps ensure nothing is overlooked: façades (any cracks emitting smoke?), gutters and valley gutters, the terrace and outdoor furniture, woodpiles, hedges and tree stumps, the garden shed, the compost bin, vehicles (undersides), and the boundary of the burnt area.
Search in three ways
The EYES (fumarole, ‘breathing’ ash, a nocturnal glow — the flare-ups are visible at night), the NOSE (the smell of hot burning, distinct from the cold of the surroundings), the cautious HAND (the warmth of a wall, an attic partition, a tree stump).
Soak, stir, soak again
At each suspicious spot: pour plenty of water over it, stir with a spade or rake to break up the clump, then water again until the soil is cool to the touch. Stumps and roots require litres of water — keep at it; they’re the champions of regrowth by day 2.
Check the loft during every patrol
The smell of smoke, a hot spot on a wall or ceiling, a crackling sound: a burning ember that has entered through a vent may be smouldering in the insulation. If you have serious concerns, call 18 — the fire brigade PREFERS to return for this.
Take turns and keep going
Every 2–3 hours for the first 24 hours (take turns with neighbours or family so you can get some sleep), then morning and evening for up to 48 hours if nothing has been found. After rain or strong winds: carry out an extra check.
The mistakes that ruin everything
- The ‘evening-only’ round: the birds love the hours between 2 and 4 am, when the night-time wind picks up.
- Stomp out an ember with your foot and walk on — it flares up again behind you.
- Emptying the compost bin or moving the woodpile WITHOUT dousing it — you’re fanning the flames.
- Walking in light trainers through the burnt area: the hollow tree stumps remain like invisible braziers.
The tip that makes all the difference
At night, switch off your head torch for a minute and scan the area: even the tiniest smouldering ember will give itself away by its glow. This is the technique used by surveillance teams — it’s foolproof.
Frequently Asked Questions
The risk changes every day. So do your reflexes.
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