Do you live in a high-rise building? If you do, it is important that you understand what to do if there is a fire in your flat or somewhere else in the building.

High-rise buildings are designed to resist fire and stop the spread of smoke. Most fires are contained and do not spread beyond the flat they originated in.

• Install smoke alarms in your flat and test them regularly.
• Formulate an escape plan for all flats in the premises. This could be a stay put policy in some case. Read more about Stay Put Policies on the National Fire Chief Councils website.
• Communicate the escape plan to all occupants.
• Your landlord has a legal duty to give you a copy of the escape plan for your building, so ask for a copy if you don’t already have one.
• Keep exits clear, both in your home and in communal areas.
• All front doors to flats and doors on corridors and staircases must be ‘self-closing’.

• Ensure you have an escape plan and follow this in an emergency.
• Leave your flat and close all doors behind you to stop the fire spreading.
• Call the fire service on 999, never assume that somebody else has called.
• Exit using the stairs, do not use the lift.
• Never re-enter the building until instructed by the fire service.

• Close your doors and windows.
• Call the fire service on 999, never assume that somebody else has called.
• Stay in your flat unless advised by the fire service.

• Get everyone into the safest room within the flat, the furthest from heat and smoke is best.
• Call the fire service on 999 and give your flat and floor number, never assume that somebody else has called.
• If there is smoke entering your property, block the bottom of doorways with, towels, blankets, bedding or coats.
• Wait to be rescued by the fire service.

Always report any damage to firefighting equipment, fire alarms, fire doors or fire escapes to your housing provider.

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