Guide to fire safety for council tenants and leaseholders

If you think a fire safety related repair is needed in your home or building, let us know as soon as possible.

This can include repairs to:

• damaged internal doors including communal doors
• smoke detectors, fire alarms or sprinklers
• light switches and fittings
• plug sockets
• damaged panels to service ducts in flats and communal areas

How to report a fire concern

• Report a repair online
• Call 0117 922 2200, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm
• For emergency repairs, call 0117 922 2050, 6pm to 8.30am
• Use a textphone, 0117 922 3892

• Do not try to put the fire out, leave that to the Fire Service.
• Leave the building as soon as possible, with anyone else in the property.
• Do not take any possessions with you.
• Close doors if you can when you leave the property. This will help prevent the spread of fire and smoke to other parts of the building.
• If your building has manual call points to warn other residents of a fire, activate them as you leave the building.
• Move to a place of safety. This is usually outside and away from the building, where you'll be safe from the fire and you can be seen by emergency services.
• Call 999 and ask for the fire service as soon as you're in a safe place.
• Tell the person answering the 999 call:
  • the fire is in your property
  • what has caused the fire such as from cooking oil, lithium batteries or candle
  • the room where the fire started
  • if anyone is still trapped in the property
• Don't go back into the building until the fire service has told you it's safe.

If you're a leaseholder, find out how to make an insurance claim

If your home is not safe

If it's not safe to return to your home, report a building safety issue in your council home.

If you sublet your home from the owner privately, contact the landlord or their Lettings Agent for advice on being rehoused.

If you think you, or someone living in your house is unable to evacuate in case of emergency, contact your housing officer or Home Ownership Officer.

We'll arrange a visit to your home to do a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment.

This assessment will help us and Avon Fire and Rescue understand any support you may need to leave the building safely in an emergency.

If you live in a block of flats, you may need to do something slightly different if there's a fire in your home, or another part of your building.

Fire safety for council tenants and leaseholders living in flats

All our properties are fitted with smoke alarms, including one on each floor.

Our smoke alarms are either:

• battery operated with a 10-year life battery
• connected to the mains, with a 10-year life battery back-up

You should test your smoke alarm every month and if you've been away from your home for a long time.

This is usually done by pressing the test button for up to 10 seconds to make sure the alarm sounds.

Call 0117 922 2200 or visit our Citizen Services Point if you're a council tenant and you:

• don't have a smoke alarm in your home
• can't test your smoke alarm yourself
• can't replace the battery yourself
• have concerns about your smoke alarm

pdf How to use and look after a smoke alarm(319 KB)

Most fires start in the kitchen, so it's important to be safe.

• Don't leave pans unattended
• Avoid cooking if you're tired, have been drinking alcohol or taking medication that could cause drowsiness.
• Keep the oven, hob, cooker hood, and grill clean and in good working order. Fat and grease can ignite and cause a fire.
• Keep toasters clean and empty of crumbs. Make sure they're not near anything that can catch fire.
• Only use a toaster for its intended use. Do not use on its side as a toastie sandwich maker.
• Always supervise children and pets in the kitchen.
• Keep saucepan handles out of children's reach.
• Take care if you're wearing loose clothing, it can easily catch fire.
• Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob
• Use spark devices to light gas cookers. They're safer than matches or lighters because they do not have a naked flame.
• Double check that the cooker is off when you finish cooking.
• Do not use a barbeque or smoker inside your property or on a balcony. This is particularly important if you live inside a block of flats with combustible cladding on the outside of the building.

Cooking: Avon Fire and Rescue Service

You must be careful burning candles or tea lights inside.

• Put them out when you leave the room and make sure they are put out at night, or when you go to bed.
• Keep them away from materials that may catch fire such as curtains, furniture, clothes.
• Store them securely in heat resistant holders, placed on stable surfaces.
• Swap wax candles for ‘flameless' LED candles. They are either battery operated or powered by electricity and much safer.

Candles: Avon Fire and Rescue Service

You're less likely to cause a fire if you smoke outside, but if you do smoke inside:

• extinguish and dispose of cigarettes safely, especially if you're smoking on a balcony
• avoid smoking somewhere if you're likely to fall asleep while a cigarette is still lit, such as in bed, or sat on an armchair or sofa
• take care if you're tired, taking prescription drugs or drinking alcohol
• use ashtrays that cannot tip over
• stub cigarettes out safely and dispose of ash carefully
• do not leave lit pipes or cigarettes unattended
• keep matches and lighters away from children and vulnerable adults

Smoking, vaping and e-cigarettes: Avon Fire and Rescue Service

• Put heaters and electrical devices at least one metre away from any other sources of heat, such as heaters or cookers.
• Never put heaters near combustible materials such as curtains, furniture, or clothes. Keep heaters at least 1 metre away from flammable items.
• Turn off any electrical items that aren't designed to be left on for a long time such as electric blankets, hair straighteners, or toasters.
• Do not cover heater vents.
• Do not overload sockets.
• Check that devices contain the right fuse.
  • 3 amp fuses: table lamps, televisions, computers, blenders, fridges, and freezers.
  • 13 amp fuses: washing machines, dishwashers, microwaves, kettles, toasters, irons.
• If you need to use adaptors or extension leads, use a fused ‘in line' type, but don't overload them with extra plug-in adaptors or use high current appliances such as electric heaters.
• If you use a portable appliance such as a plug-in radiator, only use it for what it's designed for.
• Make sure cables are completely unwound when they're in use to avoid overheating.
• Do not use or store propane gas bottles, paraffin, petrol, or other flammable liquids at home.

Heating your home: Avon Fire and Rescue Service

Fire safety advice for electricals: Avon Fire and Rescue Service

If you or anyone in your home uses medical oxygen, everyone living in your home needs to understand the fire risk.

• Make sure you understand how to use your oxygen equipment.
• Store the oxygen equipment in a well-ventilated area.
• Keep the oxygen equipment clean, dry and away from any heat.
• Turn the oxygen equipment off when you're not using it.
• When you're using your oxygen equipment do not:
  • smoke, or let anyone else smoke near you
  • cook with gas or an open flame
  • charge or use any electrical appliances, such as electric razors, hairdryers or electronic cigarettes
  • go near open fires or naked flames
• Never remove or tamper with the firebreaks in the tubing. A firebreak is an important safety device fitted in the tubing attached to the oxygen equipment.
• Oxygen is flammable. It stays on clothing for up to 20 minutes after the equipment has been turned off.
• Make sure you ventilate your clothing in the open air for at least 20 minutes before you smoke or go near an open flame.

We'll sometimes visit your home to carry out routine inspections and ensure that your home is safe.

It's important that you allow us access to your home so we can assess the condition of the property and give you any support or advice.

These visits are a good opportunity for you to discuss any concerns they might have and also receive assistance with housing-related matters.

Council officers will always carry ID.

Letting us into your council home

We also ask that you let in any contractors who need to make regular inspections of gas, electrics, asbestos, legionella, damp and mould and fire detection installations.

Our  pdf fire safety policy(390 KB) explains our approach to:

• minimising the risk of fires starting and spreading
• safeguarding tenants, leaseholders, staff, contractors and visitors in the event of fire

Our  pdf safe escape route policy(359 KB) explains how we maintain shared routes of escape in communal areas of blocks of flats, in the event of a fire.

Contact your Housing Officer or the Building Safety Team at buildingsafety@bristol.gov.uk if you have a specific question about fire safety in your home.

Call Avon Fire and Rescue on 0117 926 2061 for advice about staying safe in your home and if you would like a free home fire safety visit.