Fire safety in flats

In the kitchen

More than half of UK house fires start in the kitchen.

• never dry towels on or near a cooker
• make sure you turn the cooker off when you have finished using it
• never allow cables to trail across a cooker
• keep cleaning materials and cooking oils away from
• sources of heat and electrical sockets

In bedrooms

In the bedroom you should -

• not smoke or have candles in your bedroom - you may fall asleep
• turn off and unplug your electric blanket before you get into bed
• never use an electric blanket and a hot water bottle together
• not overload sockets, and avoid the use of extension leads

In the living room

• when buying or replacing furniture (for example, sofas and chairs), make sure they contain fire-retardant foam rather than polyurethane foam. It will be on the label

Balconies

Please keep your balcony as clear as possible.

• Do not erect a shed, pigeon loft or any other construction in or on your balcony
• Keep the balcony area clear and free from all flammable items
• Do not store or use electrical or gas items on the balcony, including BBQs
• Do not use plastic storage containers in this area
• Do not block or cover the balcony with any items. If you are drying clothes, remove them immediately when they are dry

Smoke alarms save lives

By law, we must provide smoke alarms in your flat, but you, the tenant, are personally responsible for making sure they continue to work while you are living there.

• test your smoke alarms at least monthly by pressing the button on them. If you press the button and there is no sound, report it to us immediately
• if your smoke alarm goes off by mistake, do not take out the batteries. Just wait for it to stop. Many alarms have a hush button that can be pressed to temporarily silence an alarm
• if you hear a neighbour’s smoke alarm. Do not ignore it; alert the resident. If they do not respond, call 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service

Before you go to bed

Too many fire deaths happen when we are asleep in bed. We recommend you have a bedtime routine for checking on potential fire risks.

You should -

• close all doors
• switch off and unplug electrical items which are not in use, especially e-bikes/scooters, and leave only essential appliances switched on
• check your cooker is turned off
• make sure cigarettes and/or candles are put out.
• ensure your escape route is clear and free of obstructions should you need to evacuate