Know your building's escape plan: life-saving advice for high-rise residents
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) is urging everyone living in high-rise buildings to familiarise themselves with their building’s evacuation policy – a potentially life-saving step that every resident has a right to know.
While fire safety advice can vary, one key message is clear: each high-rise building should have its own specific evacuation policy. This policy must, by law, be shared with all residents. Whether it’s a ‘stay put’ strategy or a full evacuation plan, knowing exactly what to do in the event of a fire is essential.
Area Manager Dave Bond, Assistant Director for Prevention and Protection at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, said:
“In an emergency, there’s no time to guess. Every high-rise building is different, and the evacuation procedure can depend on its design, construction, and fire safety measures. We want residents to feel confident and prepared – and that starts with knowing the plan.”
Key fire safety advice for high-rise residents:
- Ask your landlord, housing provider, or building manager for a copy of your building’s evacuation policy
- Understand whether you should ‘stay put’ or evacuate if there’s a fire elsewhere in the building
- Ensure you know where all escape routes are – not just the front door
- Keep communal areas, hallways and stairwells clear at all times
- Never tamper with fire doors or smoke alarms and if there are damaged, report it immediately.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service offers free Home Safety Visits to help residents stay safe in their homes. During a visit, fire safety officers will offer tailored advice, check smoke alarms, and answer any questions you may have — including helping you understand your building’s evacuation policy.
To book a Home Safety Visit for yourself or someone else, visit www.essex-fire.gov.uk/book or call 0300 303 0088.