Fire safety in the home
Smoke alarms
How to test your alarm
- Press and hold the test button for a few seconds. The alarm should sound
- If the alarm does not sound, try cleaning it and test it again
- If the alarm still does not sound after testing and cleaning, replace the battery
- If the alarm still does not work you will need to replace the whole detector
- When you are testing or cleaning the alarm, always use a safe and sturdy means of support to reach the alarm e.g. a stepladder
What to do if the alarm goes off
- Take your family to where it is easy to escape in case there is a fire
- Check all rooms for signs of smoke
- Feel around each door before opening it. If there is any sign of heat or smoke or if you hear any noise inside the room DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR
- If there is no sign of smoke or a fire, there must be a fault with the smoke alarm. See ow to test your alarm above.
If a fire has broken out
- DO NOT attempt to tackle it yourself. Smoke and fumes can kill in minutes
- Close all windows and doors behind you
- Get all occupants out of the dwelling and dial 999 immediately
- DO NOT go back into the dwelling for any reason.
For more information on smoke alarms and other fire safety issues click on the government website.
Other fire safety tips for the home
- If you have smoke alarms in your home, make sure you have the correct number of alarms. If you live in a flat there should be one alarm in the main corridor; if you live in a house, there should be one alarm on every floor / landing
- Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children
- Never leave children alone in the dwelling
- Make a fire escape plan for your home. Make sure all the occupants of your home know the escape plan and what to do in the event of a fire
- Inspect and clean electric fires regularly
- Ensure electrical and gas appliances are in a safe and good condition
- Keep electrical leads away from rugs and furniture
- Avoid storing flammable liquids in your home. If you have to have them in your home, make sure the liquid is in a suitable container and it is stored in a safe place
- Avoid overloading electrical sockets and circuits
- Keep burning candles away from furnishings, curtains and combustible matter. Always ensure candles are extinguished before leaving the room
- Always ensure smoking materials are fully extinguished
- Make sure you turn off electrical goods and that doors are closed when you go to bed.
Insurance
The council is only responsible for insuring the structure of your home. You are responsible for any loss or damage to your belongings through theft, fire, flooding or accident. It is strongly recommended that you take out your own home contents insurance.
The council offers an insurance scheme, which is negotiated at special rates with a leading
insurance company. The basic costs are 20p per week for every thousand pounds worth of
belongings you insure. This can be paid by cheque, postal order or at the cashier’s office at
the Town Hall Annexe, The Broadway, Ealing W5. For further details ask your Housing Officer
at your
Area Housing
Office.
