What to do if you have a fire at home - escape routes
A well-practised escape route plan could help save your life if a fire starts in your home. We recommend all households plan an escape route in case of emergencies. Think ahead, be prepared and keep your exits clear.
Our firefighters will be on their way as quickly as possible. Don’t try to fight the fire – you could put yourself and others in danger. The sooner you call us, the sooner help will be on the way.
Plan a safe escape
- Plan an escape route and make sure everyone knows how to get out
- Make sure exits are kept clear
- The best route is the normal way in and out of your home
- Plan a second route in case the first one is blocked
- Take a few minutes to practise your escape plan
- Review your plan if the layout of your home changes
- Keep door and window keys where everyone can find them
- If you – or anyone you live with – might find it difficult to escape quickly without assistance in an emergency, make extra plans to get them to safety, and book a free home safety visit for extra expert advice.
What to do if there is a fire in your home
- Don’t tackle fires yourself
- Keep calm and act quickly. Get everyone out as soon as possible
- Don’t waste time investigating what’s happened or rescuing valuables
- If there’s smoke, keep low where the air is clearer
- Before you open a door, check if it’s warm. If it is, don’t open it – fire is on the other side
- Call 999 as soon as you’re clear of the building. Get out, stay out, call the fire service
What to do if you can't get out
- If you can’t get out of the property, get everyone into one room, ideally with a window and a phone
- Close the door and put bedding around the bottom of the door to block out the smoke, then open the window and call “HELP, FIRE”
- If you have a phone with you, call 999 – be ready to describe where you are and the quickest way to reach you.
- If you’re on the ground or first floor, you may be able to escape through a window
- Use bedding to cushion your fall and lower yourself down carefully. Do not jump
- If you can’t open the window, break the glass in the bottom corner. Make jagged edges safe with a towel or blanket
Children
- It is important that children are never left home alone.
- Research has indicated that some children may not always wake to the sound of a smoke alarm. It is important that escape plans include waking and helping children and vulnerable persons to evacuate
- Families should have a fire escape plan that is rehearsed, so that everyone knows how to escape when fire occurs.
- The fire and rescue service should always be called without delay, no matter how small the fire.
Need help making your escape plan?
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