By Royal Decree no. 2177/1996 (October 1996), the rules for protecting buildings from fire were changed. Since then buildings have had to meet the basic rules of distribution, evacuation and signalling in the event of a fire. However, although the rules are increasingly more effective, prevention is still the most effective way of avoiding potential fire damage.

Basic preventative measures
The following simple measures will ensure your home is safe from the danger of a fire:
- Check the electric installation. Plugs should be firmly attached to the wall and in perfect conditions. You should never overpower them with too many devices at once.
- Regularly inspect your gas installation. A small leak could cause an explosion. If you smell gas, do not switch on the light or strike a match. Quickly open the windows and doors and turn off the gas.
- In the kitchen, wear tight fitting, short sleeved clothing. The handles of pans and casserole dishes should never extend further than the hob.
- If you are a smoker, do not smoke in bed and check that your cigarettes have been properly stubbed out in the ashtray.
- Certain cleaning products contain inflammable agents. Keep these products removed from heat sources.
- Install a smoke detector, which can also detect gases, as well as a small extinguisher weighing less than 6 kilos to ensure it is easy to handle.
- If you do buy an extinguisher, there are a wide variety of different brands of varying weights and sizes available. They can be spray water, water jet, foam, conventional powder, specialised powder, anhydridic carbon or specialised extinguishers for metal-based fires. The recommended extinguisher for a home is one of specialised powder, which best adapts to all the possible fires in the home.

How to act
If you do not know the cause of the fire do not throw water over it, as in the event of a short circuit you could intensify the fire and even cause an explosion. If it is caused by gas, water will also have no effect. In these cases it is best to use a specialised powder extinguisher, directing it at the base of flames to put the fire out.  If the fire persists, leave the room and close the windows and doors. The fire needs oxygen to expand, and cutting all air currents will prevent it from spreading.

When the fire does spread, call the firemen and leave the home crawling. The smoke rises to the ceiling and on the floor you will be able to breathe better. Place a damp cloth on your face to help you breathe as you leave the house. The firemen will take care of the rest.