Fire Safety

1. Have an escape plan and make sure that everyone knows it
2. Let everyone in your home know that there’s a smoke alarm going off and make your way to your escape route
3. Close the fire doors behind you to stop the fire from spreading
4. Crawl along the floor if there’s smoke – the air will be clearer
5. Once you’re safe outside, call 999 for the fire emergency services

Please let us know straightaway if you are unable to evacuate your home in the event of a fire – due to either a permanent or temporary disability, so that we can carry out a ‘Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan’ (PEEP) with you.

If you live in a block of flats, sheltered scheme or Extra Care Scheme and are unable to escape via the stairs, please let us know by contacting us on 0300 303 8540. Information about any customers with mobility problems is held in the fireproof box on the ground floor. Therefore, the Fire Service have these detailed Fire Emergency Evacuation Plans immediately as they arrive, so should evacuation be necessary they will provide you with assistance.

We follow Building Regulation requirements and install smoke alarms and heat detectors where appropriate in your property. We recommend you regularly test the batteries in your smoke alarms.

A smoke alarm (also known as a smoke detector) is a device that detects fire in its early stages and gives a loud audible warning. Smoke alarms save lives and could help you to save your home and the lives of your family.

Electrical equipment can be very dangerous if it’s not used and looked after properly. Here are a few things you can do to stop an electrical fire in your home:

• If a wire or plug looks damaged then do not use it.
• If there are scorch marks around a plug on the wall then do not plug anything into it.
• Do not plug more than one thing into each socket.
• Switch off and unplug things when you are not using them.
• Make sure that wires are not tangled. When a wire is tangled and electricity is running through it the wire can get extremely hot and start a fire.
• Keep portable heaters away from curtains and furniture and never use them to dry clothes.

• When you are not in the room make sure you turn off your fire or electric heater.
• Do not leave your fire or electric heater on overnight.
• Do not leave anything close to a fire or heater.
• If you have a portable electric heater then make sure you do not position it right next to a wall or piece of furniture.
• If you use an electric blanket, then make sure you switch it off before you go to bed.

• Keep your cooker clear
• Don’t leave the kitchen unattended when cooking
• Avoid deep frying wherever possible
• Keep tea towels and cloths away from the hob.

• Keep any candles in a heat-resistant holder and never leave them unattended
• If you smoke, make sure to stub out cigarettes thoroughly and dispose of them carefully
• Keep any matches or lighters out of the reach of children
• Never smoke in bed

• Keep communal areas clear – please do not store anything in communal areas including rubbish, bikes, clothes and shoes, prams or mobility scooters
• Keep all storage cupboards locked
• Never keep flammable items like liquids or gas in storage cupboards

Importance of fire doors:

• To save lives, fire doors must work correctly
• They must be fitted with the correct and compatible components suited to the door leaf and its purpose
• Like any fire safety device, they should be installed and maintained by competent people
• Keep the fire door closed – never prop it open.

As part of our fire risk assessment, it is important we carry out safety checks to all fire doors in your building, including flat entrance doors to your home.