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| Tower blocks or high rise buildings are designed to hold back fire and stop it from spreading |
Following the fire at Lakanal House in Camberwell this year, some reports in the media may have left you confused about what to do if a fire starts in your building.
Tower blocks or high rise buildings are designed with walls, ceilings and doors that hold back fire and stop it from spreading into other flats or corridors for some time. This means, that if there is a fire in another part of your building, you are usually safer staying in your flat. Also if you leave your flat you could become trapped or injured by smoke or fire.
The fire at Lakanal House remains under investigation. This will look into why the fire spread the way that it did on that occasion.
If you live in a flat or maisonette
Flats and maisonettes are built to give you some protection from fire. Walls, floors and doors will hold back flames and smoke for a time.
- If there's a fire outside of your flat, in another part of the building, you're usually safer staying in your flat unless heat or smoke is affecting you.
- If there is a fire inside your flat, leave the building closing the door to your flat behind you.
- If there is a lot of smoke, crawl along the floor where the air will be clearer.
- If you live in a building with a lift, do not use it if there is a fire, go down the stairs instead.
- Call 999 from any phone.
- Give them the address including the number of your flat, and tell them which floor the fire is on.
If you can't escape from a fire
If you live in a building with a lift, do not use it if there is a fire, go down the stairs instead
- Get everyone into one room, preferably one with a window that opens and that has a phone in it. Close the door and wait to be rescued.
- Put bedding or towels along the bottom of the door to seal the gap, to prevent smoke and fumes from getting into the room.
- Open the window and stay near it for fresh air, and to alert firefighters when they arrive.
- If you have a phone, call the fire brigade. If you don't have a phone, shout for help so that someone else can phone for you.
Remember, fires and smoke spread quickly. Plan your escape route, learn about your building, and in the first instance, make sure your home is safe from fire.
