London Fire Brigade urges carers to complete Home Fire Safety Checker amid winter hoarding fire risks

• Firefighters attended 1,028 fires involving hoarding in 2025, the highest number since 2022 (up from 954 in 2024 – an 8 per cent increase).
• Since 2021, more than 970 people have been injured in hoarding-related fires, with most incidents occurring during the colder months between November and April.
• Last year, 226 hoarding-related fires were caused by cooking, while a further 137 were the result of items being placed too close to a heat source.
• Families, carers and support workers are being asked to complete London Fire Brigade’s Home Fire Safety Checker, which has already been used by more than 31,000 people to identify and reduce fire risks.

London Fire Brigade is renewing its call for families, carers and support workers to help people living with hoarding behaviours reduce their risk of fire, by completing the Home Fire Safety Checker (HFSC).

Fires involving hoarding in London increased in 2025, reaching their highest level since 2022. Crews attended 1,028 fires where hoarding was a contributing factor, compared with 954 in 2024. The Brigade is encountering hoarding behaviours more frequently during emergency callouts and home fire safety visits, and stresses that early, supportive intervention can help prevent serious incidents and loss of life.

Hoarding significantly increases the risk of fire in the home. Large amounts of stored items such as paper, cardboard, clothing and furniture can fuel fires, block escape routes and make it much harder for residents to get out safely. Firefighters are also warning that blazes in heavily cluttered properties can spread rapidly and are often more difficult to control.

The risk increases further during the winter months, when heat sources, such as heaters, are used more frequently. The use of portable heaters, candles and cooking appliances can be especially dangerous in cluttered homes. Since 2021, nearly a thousand people have been injured in fires involving hoarding, with the majority occurring in the colder months between November and April.

Last year, 226 hoarding-related fires were caused by cooking, while a further 137 were the result of items being placed too close to a heat source. This risk was evident last month when firefighters attended a hoarding-related fire in Hayes, where an unattended candle ignited nearby items. Just days later, crews responded to another incident in Acton, caused by hoarded materials placed too close to a hob.

The Brigade works closely with carers, housing providers, health professionals and local authorities to support people living with hoarding behaviours and make their homes safer. This includes providing tailored fire safety advice, fitting and checking smoke alarms, signposting residents to partner organisations for additional support, as well as hosting support groups at fire stations.  

Carers and support workers are encouraged to complete the HFSC on behalf of those they care for. The checker helps identify potential hazards and enables residents to get tailored advice or a visit from their local fire station if needed. Even small steps, such as keeping doorways and exits clear, reducing clutter around cooking areas, and using heaters and candles safely, can make a significant difference.

The Brigade launched the HFSC in July 2023 and, since then, more than 31,000 people have completed it.

Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection, Pam Oparaocha, said: “Fires in homes affected by hoarding don’t just put the resident at risk. They can spread quickly, threatening neighbours and creating extremely challenging conditions for firefighters responding to the incident.

“Tackling hoarding-related fire risk is not about enforcement or judgement but about working together to keep people safe. By recognising the signs early and offering the right support, we can help prevent avoidable fires and protect lives.

“If you think someone may need support, please take a moment to review the helpful information on hoarding available on our website and complete the Home Fire Safety Checker on their behalf. Homes can contain hidden fire risks, and the online checker helps you identify potential hazards during a walk-through of the property. It then provides a personalised action plan with simple, practical steps to help keep people safer in their own homes.”

Complete the Brigade’s Home Fire Safety Checker on their website.

Notes to editors

1.        Hoarding-related fires attended 2021-2025:

2.        Hoarding-related fire injuries attended between 2021-2025 broken down by month: