Home Advice

Although nobody can completely protect their home from fire, you can reduce the risks by taking the following precautions:

• Test your fire detectors regularly
• Don’t smoke in bed
• Keep matches and cigarette lighters away from children
• Don’t leave candles unattended
• Keep electrical appliances in good condition.
• Do not overload electrical circuits.
• Clothes should not be aired near fires or cookers and heaters should not be covered.  
• You should always use a fireguard in front of an open fire.  
• Don’t use or store flammable or explosive substances on the premises
• Report any identified fire risks to your Housing Officer if you live in flats with Communal Areas.
• Do not put anything in the communal areas that may be flammable and may restrict escape routes in the case of fire.
• Do not leave rubbish bags in communal landings or corridors.

By far the most common cause of house fires are cooking fires.  Heat from the stove and flammable food and grease often create a dangerous combination. To prevent cooking fires, never leave food that is being cooked unattended. 

Develop a family escape plan and practice with your family. Holding fire drills at least every six months to make sure everyone, even small children, knows what to do to escape safely.

If you have made a family escape plan and practised it with your family you have already increased your chances of escaping safely. Going over the following rules with your children each time you have a fire drill will help everyone remember them in case of a real fire emergency.

• Don’t panic. Stay Clam. Remember what you have practiced.
• Get out of the building as quickly as possible. Do not stop to collect anything or get dressed.
• Feel the doors to see if they are hot, if they are not open carefully. Do not open doors that are hot. Use an alternative escape route.
• Stay close to the floor.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth (wet if possible), and take short, shallow breaths.
• Keep doors and windows closed. Open them only if you have to escape.
• Call the fire brigade as soon as possible.

REMEMBER GET OUT, STAY OUT AND CALL THE FIRE BRIGADE

Fire detection in your home is designed to give an early warning of developing fires by detecting smoke or heat.  When a detector is activated it will sounds an alarm and activate all other detectors in the property.   It can provide precious time for you and your family to escape before a fire spreads. Installing fire detection- is only one step in protecting your family from fire.

How do I know if the alarm is working properly?

Your smoke detector has been designed to be as maintenance-free as possible. To ensure your detectors are in good working order, you should test them weekly by pressing and holding the test button. This should take ten seconds. If the alarm makes a continuous loud sound for up to ten seconds, the detector is working properly. Never use an open flame of any kind to test your detector. The built-in test accurately checks all detector functions.

Who maintains my smoke alarm?

You should clean your alarm regularly to keep the dust off and improve its efficiency. The Council will repair your smoke alarm if it is found to be faulty. If you feel your smoke alarms is not functioning correctly then contact your local Housing Officer.

What if my alarm goes off for no apparent reason?

The alarm could be caused by a nuisance situation. Cooking smoke (or very rarely, steam) can cause the alarm to sound. If this happens open a window or fan the air to remove the smoke. The alarm will turn itself off as soon as the air is completely clear. Do not remove the battery or disconnect the power. If the alarm is still sounding you should phone your local Housing Office or Repairs Service.