Fire safety in flats

If fire starts in your flat

• if a fire breaks out in your flat, you and the rest of your family/ occupants should leave immediately closing all doors behind you
• do not use balconies unless they are part of an official escape route as clearly signed
• do not use the lift
• use the nearest available phone to call 999 once you are in a place of safety
• give a precise address and include the name of the nearest main road, the number of your home and what floor the flat is on
• wait in a safe muster point away from the building for the Fire and Rescue Service to arrive
• DO NOT attempt to re-enter the building or your flat
• muster points have been provided to high rise residential blocks. You are welcome to use this area to wait for emergency services if you wish

If you are in a communal area and a fire starts

• leave the building by the nearest exit
• do not use the lift. You could put yourself at risk of the lift opening on a floor affected by smoke or fire
• do not use balconies unless they are part of an official escape route as clearly signed
• use the nearest available phone to call 999 once you are in a place of safety
• give a precise address and include the name of the nearest main road, and what floor the fire is located
• do not attempt to re-enter the building or your flat until the fire brigade say it is safe to do so
• muster points have been provided to high rise residential blocks. You are welcome to use this area to wait for emergency services if you wish

If a fire occurs elsewhere in the building

• if your flat becomes affected by heat or smoke from elsewhere in the building, or you feel that your safety is compromised in any way, then leave at once closing windows and doors behind you if it is safe to do so
• if you think the fire is directly below or above your flat, we recommend that, if it is safe to do so, you leave the building by the nearest exit
• if you become aware of a fire in your building, or are unsure what to do, call 999 and follow the operator’s instruction making sure you have given the operator your exact address and location within the flat

We recommend that you, members of your family and visitors to your home take time to know what your personal fire safety plan is. It is important that you know where your means of escape is should there be an emergency.