Fire safety

Fire can start in any home. Here's what can happen when things go badly wrong - and some advice on staying safe in your home.

Fire safety in your home

  • If you have a fire then 'Get Out, Stay Out, Call 999'. 
  • You must report all fires to the fire service.

You also need to contact us on 0800 012 1311 to report any damage to your property and arrange an electrical check.

What kind of home do you live in?

Our homes come in all different shapes and sizes. Each one has a fire action plan. Make sure you understand what to do if there is a fire in your home or block.

We have two high rise blocks in Hurdsfield, Macclesfield - Range Court and Pennine Court. 

  • Leave the room where the fire is straight away, then close the door.
  • Tell everyone in your home there is a fire and get them to leave.
  • Do not stay behind to try and put the fire out.
  • Call the fire service on 999 or 112.
  • Wait outside, away from the building.
  • Do not go back into the building unless the Fire Service have told you it is safe to do so.

IF FIRE BREAKS OUT IN YOUR FLAT:

  • Leave the room where the fire is straight away, and then close the door.
  • Tell everyone in your flat and get them to leave.
  • Close the flat entrance door behind you.
  • Do not stay behind to put the fire out.
  • Wait outside away from the building.
  • Call the fire service – dial 999 or 112

IF YOU SEE OR HEAR OF A FIRE IN ANOTHER PART OF THE BUILDING:

  • The building has been designed to contain a fire in the flat where it starts.
  • This means that it will usually be safe for you to stay in your own flat if the fire is elsewhere.
  • You must leave immediately if smoke or heat affects your home, or if you are told to leave by the Fire Service.
  • If in doubt – get out.

TO CALL THE FIRE SERVICE:

  • Dial 999 or 112
  • When the operator answers, give your telephone number and ask for Fire.
  • When the Fire Service answer give the address where the fire is.
  • If safe to do so do not end the call until the Fire Service has repeated the address correctly.

Do not

  • Stop to collect personal belongings
  • Use the lift
  • Reenter the building unless instructed to by the fire officers

  • Read about our Communal Area Fire Safety Policy

IF YOU DISCOVER A FIRE:

  • Operate the nearest fire point.
  • Leave the building immediately by the nearest exit route.
  • Do not stay behind to put the fire out.
  • Wait outside away from the building.
  • Call the fire service – dial 999 or 112

WHAT TO DO IF THE FIRE ALARM SOUNDS:

  • Alert everyone in your flat. 
  • Before opening doors, check them with the back of your hand.  If they're warm, don't open them - the fire may be on the other side.
  • If it is safe to do so leave the building immediately.
  • Do not stay behind to put the fire out.
  • Wait outside away from the building.
  • Call the fire service – dial 999 or 112

IF THE FIRE IS OUTSIDE YOUR FLAT AND ESCAPE ROUTES ARE BLOCKED:

  • Stay in your flat seal your front door with tape if you can, as well as cushions and bedding, to stop smoke getting in.
  • Close any ventilators.
  • Phone 999 or 112, giving your address and number of your flat.
  • Get everyone into the safe room you have chosen.
  • Open the window. If you feel in serious danger, wave a sheet out of the window so the fire fighters know where you are.

TO CALL THE FIRE SERVICE:

  • Dial 999 or 112
  • When the operator answers, give your telephone number and ask for Fire.
  • When the Fire Service answer give the address where the fire is.
  • If safe to do so do not end the call until the Fire Service has repeated the address correctly.

Do not

ON HEARING THE FIRE ALARM AND YOU ARE IN YOUR FLAT:

  • Stay in your flat until help arrives. The building is designed to withstand the spread of fire from one flat to another.
  • Should the need to evacuate arise please follow the instruction of the Fire officer or a member of staff.

IF THERE IS A FIRE IN YOUR FLAT:

  • Leave the room where the fire is straight away, and then close the door.
  • Tell everyone in the flat and get them to leave. Close the flat entrance door behind you.
  • Make your way outside, stand a safe distance away from the building, and await the arrival of the Fire Service.
  • If you are unable to leave your flat unaided and need urgent assistance call 999 immediately.

IF THE FIRE ALARM GOES OFF WHEN YOU ARE IN THE LOUNGE OR ANOTHER SHARED SPACE:

Leave the building by the nearest exit. Do not return to your flat.

The fire might be behind your front door and you might be walking in to it. 

IF YOU SEE OR HEAR OF A FIRE IN ANOTHER PART OF THE BUILDING:

  • Raise the alarm by pushing a fire alarm call point.
  • The building is designed to contain the fire in the flat where it starts.
  • This means that this will be safe for you to stay in your flat.
  • You must leave immediately if smoke or heat affects your home or you are told to do so by the Fire Service or a member of staff.

Do not

Fire doors

If you live in a communal block of flats or a sheltered scheme, all entrance doors are fire doors. Doors between corridors and stairwells are also fire doors.

There may also be fire doors in these communal areas:

  • Communal lounges
  • Communal kitchens
  • Laundry rooms
  • Electrical rooms
  • Store room cupboards

Look out for these common problems:

  • Holes or large dents
  • A broken self-closing device
  • A door not closing fully
  • A broken smoke seal (this should be intact all around either the edge of the door or the door frame)

Contact Peaks & Plains immediately.

We carry out regular checks on the fire doors to make sure that they stay in good condition and operate as they should. This includes checking flat entrance doors once a year and communal doors more frequently.

  • Report faulty doors immediately
  • Don’t tamper with self-closing devices on your flat entrance door or any other doors
  • Don’t wedge fire doors open
  • Don’t attach any decorations to a fire door

Email staysafe@peaksplains.org or call the Trust on 0800 012 1311.

Safety tips

Whatever home you live in - please stay safe. Here are some tips.

Fire safety in communal areas - keeping you and your neighbours safe

If you live in a block or have shared lounges, corridors or stairs, you'll need to read and understand our Communal Areas Fire Safety Policy. 

 

Report a fire hazard

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