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William Brown, County Fire Officer, urges everybody to prepare for a fire in their home. 'Making a Fire Action Plan takes minutes, but in the event of a fire you will be able to react instantly, and correctly.'
There’s no time to stop and think and wonder what’s the best thing to do. The situation can change in seconds. Half a minute after the smoke alarm goes off, an entire floor of your house could be filled with dense smoke.
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 Planning takes minutes and saves lives.
Plan together -Include everyone who lives in your home, especially children, older people and lodgers. Talk through your escape plan, including what to do and what not to do in a fire.
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Choose an escape route -The best escape route is your normal way in and out of your home. Think of any difficulties you may have getting out, for example in the middle of the night. Choose a second escape route, in case the first one is blocked. Keep both escape routes clear of obstructions. If there are older people or children in the household, plan the order you’d escape in, so that if you have to go out of a window you can help them down.
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Make sure everyone knows where you keep keys - Decide where the keys to doors and windows should be kept, and always keep them there. Everyone in your household should know the location.
Put your address by the phone so children can read it out to the emergency services.
Put a reminder of what to do in a fire somewhere prominent, like on the door of the fridge.
Tell everyone about fire equipment - If you have fire extinguishers or fire blankets, make sure all adults know where they are, and how to use them. Extinguishers and blankets should only be used on a small, easily containable fire. The priority is always to keep people safe. Things can be replaced, but people can’t.
Practise the plan - Take a few minutes to “walk through” the plan with everyone in the household. Regularly remind everyone of what to do and what not to do in a fire.
A complete plan - A full fire safety plan covers more than just what to do if the worst happens. It covers prevention and detection too.
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If there’s a Fire
You need to act instantly, swiftly and calmly once you become aware of a fire.
Alert everyone -Make sure everyone in your home knows about the fire. Shout. Get everyone together.
Don’t delay.
Shut doors -As you go out, only open the doors you need to. Close any open doors. Before you open a door check it with the back of your hand. If it’s warm, don’t open it – the fire is the other side.
Get everyone out - Use your escape route. Stay together if you can.
Crawl on the floor if there’s smoke - The air is cleaner near the floor so if there’s smoke put your nose as low as possible. Remember, smoke is poisonous and can kill you. |
Call 999 - Once you’ve escaped, use a mobile, a neighbour’s phone or a phone box. 999 calls are free. |
- Speak slowly and clearly.
- Give the whole address of your home and the town.
- Say what is on fire (eg, a two-storey house).
- Explain if any one is trapped and what room they are in.
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Don’t go back in - Don’t go back in for anything.
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If Your Escape Route is Blocked
When the fire is between you and your escape route, you have to react in a different way.
Get out of a Window You may be able to escape through a window if you are on the ground or the first floor. If you’re on the first floor you should only do this as a last resort – when you are in immediate danger.
Cushion your fall -Throw bedding, cushions, etc, onto the ground to break your fall.
Don’t jump -Lower yourself by your arms from the window ledge before dropping.
Lower children -If there are two adults, one should go down first to catch children. The other should lie down and lower children as far as possible before letting them drop.
If you have to break the window -Use a heavy object to hit the glass at the bottom corner. Make the jagged edges safe with a towel or blanket.
Find a Safe Place to Wait When your escape route is blocked and you can’t use a window, you need to keep safe in the building.
Get everyone into one room -Choose a room with a window and a phone if possible. Shut the door.
Block the door -Put cushions, bedding, etc, round the bottom of the door to block smoke.
Open the window and call for help -It’s important to let people know you are there, and if you haven’t managed to call 999 you need to raise the alarm.
Stay by the window - Lean out of the window to breathe if you need to. Keep drawing attention to yourself.
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Highrise Escape
Living above the first floor doesn’t make you any more at risk from fire. Most of your planning is the same as homes at ground level, but there are some key differences…
High rise flats are built to be fire-proof – walls, ceilings and doors will hold back flames and smoke. Most fires don’t spread further than one or two rooms. If there’s a fire elsewhere in the building you’re usually safest in your flat unless heat or smoke is affecting you.
Alert everyone -Make sure everyone in your home knows about the fire. Alert neighbouring flats by banging on the doors on your way out. Set off the fire alarm if there is one. If there’s a lot of smoke, crawl along the floor where the air will be cleaner.
Get everyone out -Don’t delay for valuables. Don’t investigate the fire. Before you open doors check them with the back of your hand. If they’re warm don’t open them – the fire is on the other side. Don’t use the lift – go down the stairs.
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For further Fire Safety information and advice contact:
The Fire Safety Helpline on 01926 466282
National Community Fire Safety Centre Website www.firekills.gov.uk
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