Fire Safety
If there is a fire you must get out, stay out, and call 999 immediately.
We want to help protect you and your home from fire.
Following fire safety tips and advice can help to save lives.
- Don’t overload electrical sockets - try to keep to one plug per socket
- Be extremely careful when charging e-bikes/scooters, certainly don’t charge them overnight
- Carry out regular tests on your smoke alarms to check they are working
- Double check that hobs, ovens and air fryers are turned off once you’ve finished using them
- Have your own heaters serviced every year. Make sure they cannot be knocked over and keep them away from furniture
- Only burn candles if you’re staying in the room with them
Helpful nighttime checks
- Switch off all electrical appliances
- Turn plugs off at the switch, where possible
- Check ashtrays for burning cigarette ends
- Close all internal doors
- Check there is nothing blocking the hallway or front door
- Make sure you know where your door keysare in case of an emergency
Fire doors
Fire doors buy you time, creating a barrier between you and the fire and toxic smoke.
All fire doors in the homes that we provide should have a sign to make it clear that it’s a fire door.
If you have fire doors in your home, it’s really important that you don’t alter them as you could damage the door and make it less likely to work properly in an emergency.
All fire doors in the homes that we provide should have a sign to make it clear that it’s a fire door.
If you have fire doors in your home, it’s really important that you don’t alter them as you could damage the door and make it less likely to work properly in an emergency.
- If you spot a fault with a fire door in your home, please report this to us urgently
- Don’t drill into your fire door or cut it in any way
- Don’t paint over the seals on a fire door
- Don’t replace the handles, hinges or any hardware
Fire safety in communal buildings
If you live in a communal building fire safety can not only save the lives of the people living in your home, but all of the homes in your building.
Every communal building has an emergency evacuation plan. Your plan will be displayed on signs near the entrance to your building. Please take note of the plan, including where the meeting point is for emergencies.
Every communal building has an emergency evacuation plan. Your plan will be displayed on signs near the entrance to your building. Please take note of the plan, including where the meeting point is for emergencies.
Do you think you may need help getting out of the building in an emergency situation?
If so, please let us know as soon as possible by calling 0330 175 9540 or see your Housing Officer and we will put an agreed evacuation plan together.
Don't block escape routes
If so, please let us know as soon as possible by calling 0330 175 9540 or see your Housing Officer and we will put an agreed evacuation plan together.
Don't block escape routes
- Remember, when you share a building with other families, your safety and theirs depends on everyone co-operating.
- Communal corridors are everyone's escape routes in an emergency. Please don't block corridors with your belonging. Even a simple door mat could cause a trip hazard and put lives at risk.
- In your own home, do not block your hall or put portable heaters or anything that catches fire easily in your hallway. It is the only escape route for you and your family.
Storing items against external walls
Items that are potentially flammable shouldn't be stored against external walls of communal buildings as they present a risk of fire spreading to other homes within the building. A fire against an external wall could potentially affect the structure of the building, particularly around doors, windows, or cladding.
- Rubbish bins are one of the items that can cause fires, and they pose more of a risk when stored against an external wall.
- Mobility scooters should be stored at least 6 metres away from any communal building, this is according to guidance from National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC)
If you have any questions about fire safety, please call: 0330 175 9540 or email: enquiry@incommunities.co.uk or speak to your Neighbourhood Housing Officer.
