Council tenants - fire safety

View transcript of the video (pdf, 21 KB)

Introduction

• Fire and smoke can spread very quickly. Both can kill.
• It is important that everyone knows how to avoid fires starting and what to do if one does start.
• You, your family and visitors must take responsibility for preventing the outbreak of fire. Please see Fire Kills wise up factsheet (pdf, 33 KB) which explains why you must take this responsibility seriously.

Preventing fires

Most fires are avoidable if you follow a few simple rules:

• Test your smoke detector weekly, especially if it is battery operated only.
• Check your home and make sure that it is safe from fire hazards. Pay particular attention to your kitchen, as two thirds of fires happen due to cooking. 
• Cookers should not be left unattended, particularly when using a chip pan. Find out more in our kitchen safety leaflet (pdf, 175 KB) and cooking safety leaflet (pdf, 351 KB).
• Avon Fire and Rescue offer home safety visits which will provide you with free advice about staying safe in your home. You can book a visit online (external link) or telephone 0800 1693999.
• Pay attention to electrical safety. Report all broken switches, sockets and light fittings or any exposed wiring immediately to the Repairs and Maintenance Service. Find out more in our electrical safety leaflet.
• Turn off and unplug all electrical items not designed to be left on for long periods of time.
• Do not use or store propane gas bottles, paraffin or other flammable liquids such as petrol.
• Lit cigarettes, cigars and pipes should not be left unattended. For more information see the Avon Fire and Rescue tips to stay safe (external website).
• Keep matches away from children and ensure they can not be reached.
• Candles should only be used in a stable holder, well away from curtains and other flammable materials. They should never be left unattended. Find out more in our candle safety leaflet (pdf, 104 KB).
• Do not dry or air clothes near heaters, cookers or open fires. Make sure open fires have fireguards.
• Close internal doors when you retire at night.

What if I live in a block of flats?

If you live in a multi-storey block of flats or maisonettes please read Avon Fire and Rescues high rise fire safety leaflet (pdf, 52 KB). In addition to the advice in the section above you should also:

• Not wedge fire doors open.
• Dispose of your rubbish responsibly. Do not allow flammable materials to be left in communal areas.
• Not smoke in communal areas. This includes landings, lifts, foyers, stairwells, walkways, community rooms and storage cage areas.

Keeping communal areas clear

You must  keep communal areas such as landings, foyers, stairwells and walkways free of obstacles. They are your way out in the event of a fire. This is because anything left in these areas could:

• Slow people down from being able to escape, especially if they are disabled, have poor eyesight or there is smoke which will cause visibility to be reduced. This could cost lives.
• Catch fire and emit smoke, which could be toxic.
• Stop firefighters from being able to move around safely to deal with emergency or rescue.

We have a legal duty to ensure that escape routes are safe. As a tenant, you also share in this responsibility in your Tenancy Agreement. To ensure this we have a clear corridors policy, which states that you must not leave anything outside of your flat. We understand that you may not agree with this, but we have to remove any potential obstacles such as furniture, plants and pictures from communal areas. If you have any questions please contact the Repairs and Maintenance Service. If you need help with removing any items please contact Caretaking Services. Please see our clear corridors flyer (pdf, 1.6 MB) for further information.

Mobility scooters

If you have a mobility scooter you must make your own arrangements to store and charge it. Due to our clear corridors policy, you must not store mobility scooters in any communal areas, including landings, foyers, stairwells, walkways and community rooms or run extension leads into corridors to charge them. This is because mobility scooters can present a risk to other tenants, especially in the event of a fire.

Planning an escape route

In the event of a fire in your home, your main priority is to get out. Do not try and fight the fire yourself. Be prepared by:

• Planning your escape route and make sure that everyone staying in your home knows where to go, in case there is ever a fire.  
• Keep your keys to the front door in a handy position, though out of the way of burglars. Vital time may be lost if you do not keep the keys to the front door close to it.
• Keep your escape route inside and outside of your home clear of obstacles at all times.

For further information on planning an escape route please see Avon Fire and Rescue's fire action plan leaflet (pdf, 56 KB).

Smoke detectors

• All of our properties should be fitted with smoke detectors. If yours does not have one contact the Repairs and Maintenance Service and we will fit one.
• You are responsible for maintaining your smoke detector. However, if you are disabled or elderly with no one else in your household, we can arrange for someone to do this for you. Please contact the Repairs and Maintenance Service.
• For further information please see our smoke detector factsheet (pdf, 111 KB) and Fire Kills wise up smoke detector factsheet (pdf, 495 KB).

What to do in the event of a fire in your home

In the event of a fire:

• Try to be calm - Don't panic.
• Don't open doors looking for the source of the fire.
• Alert everyone else in your house/flat to the fire.
• Close all  doors in your house/flat as you leave a room, if it is safe to do so. However, make sure everyone else is out of the room.
• Don't stop to collect personal belongings or pets.
• If you have to move through smoke, keep as close to the floor as you can, where the air is fresher.
• Close the front door after the last person has left.
• If you live in a flat do not use a balcony to escape from, unless it is part of an official escape route.
• If there is one, do not use the lift. Always use the staircase.
• When you are out of the building, or at the assembly point, and in a safe place phone 999.
• Remember if you have a "pay-as-you-go" mobile phone, it will still allow 999 calls if you have no credit.
• Keep calm and speak clearly.
• Do not go back into the building until you have been told that it is safe to do so by the Fire Service.

What to do if you become trapped by a fire

If you become trapped in your home by a fire you should:

• Close the door to the room you are in.
• Try to seal any gaps under the door with clothes or towels to stop smoke entering.
• If you can use a phone without putting yourself in danger dial 999.
• Close the windows unless you need fresh air or to call for help.
• If you can't get to a phone safely shout for help out of the window. Ask a passer by to dial 999.

Fire regulations

• Under the regulatory reform (fire safety) order 2005 (pdf, 1.0 MB) we have a duty to make sure that your home is safe. Not just to live in but for council staff, contractors and other visitors as well.
• We have a dedicated fire safety team that work with Avon Fire and Rescue, to make sure our homes are as safe as we can make them. They also ensure that people are given enough information and training about fire safety.
• In 2010 we started a programme of inspecting every block of flats to see what could be done to improve fire safety. As a result we have begun to make a number of improvements including repairs to fire doors, extra signs, fire stopping, fire detection and improved ventilation.
• Over time we will be providing you with more information and advice about fire safety, to help make your home a safer place.

Further information

For further information please see our fire safety factsheet (pdf, 177 KB) and:

• Avon Fire and Rescue leaflets (external website)
• Direct.gov (external website)