Fire Safety

 

We want you to be safe in your home, so we’ve put together some tips to keep you fire safe.

·         Don’t leave the TV or other electrical appliances on standby as this could cause a fire

·         Always switch appliances off and unplug when not in use

·         Inspect all electrical appliances for damage or loose wires etc. Refer all repairs to a qualified electrician

Take care before going to bed:

·         Only leave on those appliances that are designed to be left on – for example, DVD players/video recorders, freezers and clock radios

·        Check that the oven, grill and hob are switched off

·         Don’t leave the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher running overnight (they are a fire risk because of their high wattage, friction and motors)

·         Turn off all gas and electric heaters

·         Close all doors. By shutting doors you are protecting your escape route from fire and smoke

·         Turn off your electric blanket (unless it has a thermostat and is designed to be left on overnight)

Escape plans for your home

·         Sit down with everyone who lives in your home and talk about how you would react if there were a fire. If your home has smoke detectors you should test them regularly and everyone should be familiar with the sound that they make

·         Choose an escape route. This should be the easiest way out of your home but also consider how to get to somewhere safe outside the building

·         Decide also on a second escape route, if one is available (but not a balcony)

·         Check that there aren’t any boxes, rubbish or anything that could catch fire in corridors or stairways

Fire Safety in Flats

If you live in flat’s you can help us reduce the risks posed by a fire by checking that:

·          Doors to stairways and fire escapes are not locked

·          You can open these doors from both sides

·          Fire doors always stay closed and are not propped open (they are designed to stop fire and smoke from spreading)

·         When planning your escape route, keep in mind that you must never use a lift (where provided). A fire can cut the power to the lift, leaving you stranded

·         Choose a safe room. If you can’t escape you will need to find one room where you can wait to be rescued, preferably one with a window that opens and that has a phone in it

·         Make sure everyone knows where the stairs are. As it’s easy to get confused in the dark, count how many doors you will need to go through or past.

For further information

You can find out more by visiting http://firekills.direct.gov.uk

The London Fire and Rescue Service will also be happy to give you advice on the sort of equipment that would suit you best. They can send someone round to check your home and advise on what should be done.

Please call them on 020 8555 1200

In an emergency you should call 999.

This site also has information available in other languages:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/InYourHome/FireSafety/DG_180886

Home Fire Safety Visit

You can receive a Home Fire Safety Visit which is a FREE service that the brigade offers. A  Home Fire Safety Visit involves trained person from the Fire Brigade visiting you at home to give you advice regarding any potential fire hazards that relate to your particular needs.

The visit also includes the provision and installation of a free smoke alarm with a battery life of 10 years. If you already have a smoke alarm you can still arrange to have a HFSV to your home. A HFSV can be arranged through one of the following methods:

Telephone: 08000 28 4 28
E-mail: smokealarms@london-fire.gov.uk