Please read the following advice
from the City of London’s Fire Officer on what you should do in the
event of a fire and of precautions you should take to prevent fires
occurring.
You must ensure that you are
familiar with your means of escape
(details are given in the residential handbook) and that you do not
impede access to these escape routes.
Barbican Estate buildings have
been built to protect residents in the event of a fire. The
important thing to remember is that if a fire starts in your home,
it is up to you to make sure you can vacate the premises.
Do not wait until a fire
occurs -
read this guide and decide the best
way for you and your family to get out of your home or out of the
building if there is a fire elsewhere. There may be more than one
way out. If you and all other people in the building observe the
following rules you will be much safer and less likely to start a
fire or be injured in one.
At all
times
-
Make sure that
smoke alarms (if fitted) in your home are working. If not fitted
consider installing them to give vital early warning of
fire.
-
Do not store
anything in your hall or corridor, especially things that will burn
easily.
-
Use the fixed
heating system in your home. If this is not possible, use only a
convector heater in your hall or corridor. Do not use any form of
radiant heater, especially one with either a flame (calor gas or
paraffin) or a radiant element (electric bar
fire).
-
Use rooms only
for their proper purpose, that is for sleeping, sitting in or
cooking. Do not use them as workshops or for storage. Do not store
anything in areas where meters are fitted.
-
Keep all
staircases, landings and balconies clear of obstructions. Someone
else’s escape may depend upon it.
-
Do not block
access to the building. It is important that access roads to blocks
of dwellings should be left clear at all times to allow the Fire
Brigade and the emergency vehicles to reach the scene of an
incident.
If a fire breaks out in your
home
- Leave the affected room immediately together
with anybody else. Close the door behind you.
- Do not stay behind and try to put the fire out.
- Tell everybody else in your home about the fire and get
everyone to leave. Close your front door and leave the
building.
- Only use the balcony if it is part of the escape route and you
are not able to use your normal exit route.
- Do not use the lift
- Call the Fire Brigade
If you see or hear a fire in another part
of the building
- It will often be safe for you to stay in your home.
- Call the Fire Brigade
- Close all doors and windows. If smoke or heat affects your
flat, leave at once.
- If necessary, the Fire Brigade will advise you to leave your
home. Evacuation of buildings should only be undertaken by the Fire
Brigade.
Causes of fire
Most fires are caused by carelessness or misuse
of appliances, such as
- Careless use of cooking appliances, particularly
chip pans.
- Careless use of matches and smoking
materials.
- Airing clothes or other combustible materials
close to sources of heat such as storage or convector heaters which
restricts the necessary free circulation of air.
- Absence of adequate fire guards.
- Poor servicing of domestic appliances such as
electric blankets.
- Use or siting of portable heaters close to
furniture and curtains.
- Failure to disconnect radio, television or other
appliances at night or when away from home.
- Children playing with fire.
- Covering of storage or convector heaters which
restricts the necessary free circulation of air.