To make sure this happens, we need you to know what you can do to keep yourself (your family and neighbours) safe if there’s a fire in your home or your apartment block.

We also want you to know how we’re making sure you’re as safe as possible.

How we’re protecting you from fire

• We work with fire experts to make sure that we’ve done everything we can to reduce the risk of a fire starting or getting out of control
• In all apartment blocks - and sometimes in other places - we’ve got fire safety plans and fire protection and detection equipment to the highest possible standard
• But it’s important that the equipment stays in tip-top condition
• If it’s touched, tampered with or vandalised (either inside your apartment or in the common areas) it may not work properly
• If this happens everyone, either living or visiting the block, is at risk of a fire breaking out (see the next section on what you should do if you think there’s a problem)

Things you NEED to know or need to DO now (please don’t skip this bit)

• If you think - at any time - that any fire safety equipment in any homes or blocks might have been tampered with, let us know straight away by calling 0800 652 0898
• You also need to know what you should do in case there’s a fire in your home or apartment block
• What you should do, will depend on where you live. Get in touch today if you’re not sure what you should do
• Please also help us to keep you safe by keeping the common areas clear at all times, this means all the walkways, corridors and staircases

What to do if a fire breaks out where you live - there’s different advice for different places

If there’s a fire in your own home:

• Quickly get out of the room where the fire is and close the door behind you
• Call the fire service on 999 immediately
• Tell everyone in your home that there’s a fire and to get out too
• Don’t stop to get any of your things, and shut the front door firmly behind you
• Do not try and put the fire out yourself
• Wait outside away from the building in a safe place

If you see or hear a fire when you are in a common area of the building:

• Leave by the nearest available exit
• Call the fire service on 999 immediately
• Wait outside, away from the building

If there’s a fire in the building (including in someone else’s flat) and we’ve told you to stay put:

• The building you’re in is designed to contain a fire inside the apartment where it started
• If the fire isn’t in your apartment, close all your doors and windows and stay inside
• Dial 999 right away, just in case the person whose apartment is on fire is out or hasn’t been able to call 999
• If smoke or heat from the apartment where the fire is starts to affect your home then leave immediately, if it’s safe to do so. Or if the fire service people tell you to leave

You can find out if this is the advice for your apartment by contacting us.

If there’s a fire elsewhere in the building (including in someone else’s flat) and we’ve told you to leave the building (if possible):

• If you’re in one of the homes where we told people to evacuate the building then do so, as long as it’s safe.
• If it isn’t safe, stay where you are and raise the alarm by dialling 999 immediately
• Remember, when you dial 999 you need to ask for FIRE
• When the operator answers give the address of where the fire is
• DON’T HANG UP until the address is repeated back to you and confirmed

You can find out if this is the advice for your apartment by contacting us.

Some general fire safety advice

• All our homes are fitted with a smoke detector – you should check the smoke detector every week to make sure the battery is still working.  DO NOT at any time disconnect it – it could save your life.
• Please let us know today, if you have trouble hearing and need a special detector. You can also contact adult services who can get one for you
• More tips to help keep you safe from fire can be found at www.hantsfire.gov.uk

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