Fire safety

We take your health and safety seriously and work hard to make sure that your home, and any areas you share with other residents, are safe.

It is important to know how to:

  • keep your home safe from a fire
  • prevent a fire, and
  • know what to do if there is a fire in your home.

We continue to install smoke alarms in our properties. These are checked as part of our annual safety check and service of the heating system within your home.

It is important to make sure that you test smoke alarms regularly, have a fire escape plan, and make sure everyone in your household is familiar with it.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service can provide advice on fire safety in the home free of charge.

Information on free home fire safety checks, and staying safe in your home, can be found on the:

To help you stay safe from fire in your home, we've put together some tips and advice to reduce the risk of fire.

If you live in a tower block please make sure that communal areas are kept clear. These include:

  • corridors and
  • stair wells

Never store personal belongings or rubbish in communal areas. This is a serious fire risk, especially in our high rise tower blocks.

Detailed information on fire safety in tower blocks can be found in our:

We carry out fire risk assessments on all of our high-rise tower blocks, and our front-line staff do a variety of ongoing checks to help ensure your safety.

  • Many kitchen fires start while cooking is unattended. Hot fats, oils and food can easily overheat and catch fire.
  • If you have to leave the kitchen, turn the cooker off and take the saucepans off the heat.
  • Don’t leave children alone in the kitchen when the hob or oven is on.
  • Be careful when cooking with hot oil. Think about buying a deep-fat fryer controlled by a thermostat.
  • If you’re using the oven, use a timer.
  • Cleaning your cooking appliances and extractor fan reduces the risk of fire.
  • If you come across a fire in the kitchen don’t try to tackle it.
    • Turn off the heat if you can safely.
    • Never throw water on the fire.
    • Close the kitchen door, leave the property
    • Call 999.
  • Make sure to test your smoke detector weekly.
  • If you think any of your smoke detectors aren’t working or if they’re beeping, contact us straight away.
  • You can get full contact details in our:
  • Never cover or remove a smoke detector.

Did you know?

Having a working smoke detector makes it four times more likely that you’ll survive a fire during the night.

  • Don’t overload sockets with appliances – try to keep one plug to each socket.
  • Report signs of scorching, discolouration or faulty operation on sockets to us immediately.
    • This can be done by calling our Repairs Line on 03448 920 901.
  • Never allow water to touch electrics – this can cause electrocution or fire.
  • Switch off appliances at night, unless they are designed to be left on, such as your fridge/freezer.
  • Don’t dry clothes close to electric heaters.
  • Only buy approved chargers for rechargeable devices - cheaper options may be unsafe.

Did you know?

Faulty electrical appliances, wiring and overloaded sockets cause around 7,000 fires in the home every year in the UK.

  • Keep candles and tea lights in proper holders and away from curtains and clothes.
  • Never leave candles unattended.
  • Ensure that candles are extinguished before you go to sleep.
  • Stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully.
  • If you smoke in your home, keep ashtrays away from furniture. Use a proper ashtray that’s deep, heavy and non-flammable.
  • Take extra care if you smoke when you’re tired, have taken medication, or if you’ve consumed alcohol.
  • Never smoke in bed.
  • Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
  • Make a plan so that everyone in your home knows how to escape in a fire.
  • Keep the exits from your home clear so people can escape in a fire.
  • Make sure the keys to windows and doors are easy to find.
  • Take notice of any fire evacuation signs in your building. These will show you what to do.
  • If you live in a block of flats, familiarise yourself with the evacuation procedure. Never use the lift if your building is on fire.
  • Always be vigilant to ensure that the escape routes are not blocked by unauthorised items.
  • If there is an unauthorised item blocking an escape route, it is important to notify us.
  • You can get full contact details in our:
  • Close room doors at night.
  • Don’t leave the TV or other electrical appliances on standby, and at Christmas time, turn your Christmas tree lights off at night.
  • Check any soft furnishings where people have been smoking.
  • Make sure the contents are cold before emptying ashtrays,
  • Keep the exits from your home clear so people can escape in a fire.

Remember…

In a fire, keep calm and act quickly. Close the door and make sure everyone leaves the property safely.

Call 999 and give an exact address.

 


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Gas Safety