This page includes everything you need to know about how to safe stay if there is a fire in your home or block, and best practice to help prevent a fire from starting.
If you have concerns about any of our fire safety practices, please email firesafety@wcht.org.uk. You can get in touch on this email at any point, even outside of our standard complaints procedure, and we’ll address it.
What to do if there's a fire in your flat
- Never tackle a fire yourself. Leave it to the fire and rescue service
- Keep calm but act quickly. Get everyone out
- Don’t waste time investigating what’s happened or rescuing valuables
- If there’s smoke, keep low to the floor where the air is cleaner
- Before you open a door, check if it’s warm. If it is DO NOT open it!
- Close doors on the way out
- Alert any neighbours who might be at risk from the fire without putting yourself in danger
- NEVER USE LIFTS. Always use the stairs, even if you are high up
- Call 999 as soon as you’re clear of the building
Remember – Get out. Stay out. Call 999
What if you cannot get out?
- If your escape route is blocked by fire or smoke, stay inside the safest room with a window that opens and call the fire and rescue service by calling 999. You can get help and advice over the phone, and this will also help firefighters know where you are
- Keep the door closed and use towels or bedding at the bottom of the door to block the smoke. Open a window and shout “HELP. FIRE”. Wait to be rescued by a firefighter
What to do if there's a fire in another part of the building
- Our blocks are built in a way which helps prevent fires spreading from one flat to another, or to communal areas. If there is a fire in another part of your block you should obseve the ‘stay put’ policy and remain in your flat, unless told otherwise by the fire service
- Leaving the flat when you’re not affected by smoke or the fire can place you in greater danger and can hamper the fire and rescue service response
- The fire and rescue service may trigger a full evacuation, in which case you’ll need to get out and stay out
- If your flat is affected by heat or smoke, you should get outside and call 999
- If your escape route is blocked or full of smoke or fire, return to your flat and call 999 so firefighters know where you are
Working with the fire service
We work closely with Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and consulted with them extensively when putting together our fire safety strategy. On their advice we have an active 'stay put' policy for all our high-rise blocks. All flats in these blocks are built in such a way as to prevent the spread of fire, and in the event of one in another part of the building, the safest option is for you to remain in your home until the fire service are able to attend.
We review this policy annually alongside the Fire and Rescue Service and will implement any changes based on their advice.
How you can help to prevent fires at home
For a full guide to fire safety and information on how to make sure you know what to do in the event of a fire, you can visit Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue’s website.
Keeping you safe in your home is our top priority, so here are some helpful suggestions on ways to minimise the risk of fire.
Smoke alarms
Test your smoke alarms!
You should test your smoke alarms monthly to make sure that they are undamaged, and in full working order. During your annual gas appointment, we’ll check your smoke alarms, but regular testing can reassure you throughout the year.
Never disconnect or remove the batteries from your smoke alarm.
You should test your smoke alarms monthly to make sure that they are undamaged, and in full working order. During your annual gas appointment, we’ll check your smoke alarms, but regular testing can reassure you throughout the year.
Never disconnect or remove the batteries from your smoke alarm.
Escape routes
It is a good idea to familiarise yourself with your surroundings and have an escape plan in the event of a fire.
It is easy to get confused in smoke, so it’s important to know how many doors you need to go through to reach the stairs.
Talk through your ‘escape plan’ with everyone who lives in your home and make sure everyone knows where to find door and window keys.
Please make sure you keep communal areas clear at all times as items left in corridors or stairwells can prevent escape in the event of a fire.
It is easy to get confused in smoke, so it’s important to know how many doors you need to go through to reach the stairs.
Talk through your ‘escape plan’ with everyone who lives in your home and make sure everyone knows where to find door and window keys.
Please make sure you keep communal areas clear at all times as items left in corridors or stairwells can prevent escape in the event of a fire.
Testing
It's important that your electrics and gas, where necessary, are tested to make sure everything is operating correctly and safely. If you are a Watford Community Housing tenant we will arrange these inspections for you and let you know in advance when they will be carried out. If you live in a block, we also carry out Fire Risk Assessments every year or every two years (depending on your block).
If we arrange an appointment with you, either to carry out fire safety works or to check your gas boiler system, please let us in at the agreed time so that we can help keep your home safe.
If you are a shared owner or leaseholder you will need to arrange for these tests to be carried out yourself and will need to provide us with copies of up to date safety certificates.
If we arrange an appointment with you, either to carry out fire safety works or to check your gas boiler system, please let us in at the agreed time so that we can help keep your home safe.
If you are a shared owner or leaseholder you will need to arrange for these tests to be carried out yourself and will need to provide us with copies of up to date safety certificates.
Smoking in your home
Smoking is one of the biggest causes of accidental fires.
If you are a smoker, please make sure your cigarettes are put out properly after you have finished with them, and do not leave a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe lying around.
You must not smoke within communal areas.
If you are a smoker, please make sure your cigarettes are put out properly after you have finished with them, and do not leave a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe lying around.
You must not smoke within communal areas.
In the kitchen
Cooking safely
Take care with electrical appliances
Deep fat frying
What to do if a pan catches fire
- If you need to leave the kitchen whilst cooking, take the pans off the heat or turn them down to avoid risk
- Avoid leaving children in the kitchen alone
- Keep matches and saucepan handles out of their reach
- Keep tea towels and clothes away from the cooker and hob
- Double check the cooker is off when you’ve finished cooking
Take care with electrical appliances
- Keep electrical leads and appliances away from water
- Check toasters are clean and placed away from curtains and kitchen rolls
- Don’t put anything metal in the microwave unless its designed to take them
Deep fat frying
- Make sure your food is dry before putting it in hot oil
- If the oil starts to smoke – it’s too hot. Turn off the heat and leave it to cool
- Try to avoid using a chip pan. A thermostat-controlled electric deep fat fryer or an air fryer make great alternatives, as they can’t overheat
What to do if a pan catches fire
- Don’t take any risks. NEVER move the pan. NEVER throw water over it
- Turn off the heat if it’s safe to do so
- Don’t tackle the fire yourself
- Close the door to the kitchen if possible
- Get out of the kitchen as quickly and safely as possible, and do not return until told it is safe to do so
- Call 999.
Balcony safety
- Never use barbecues, including disposable ones, on your balcony as they pose a serious fire risk
- Fire pits, patio heaters and chimineas should also not be used on balconies
- Never store flammable or hazardous materials (i.e. gas cylinders) on balconies
- Keep balconies clutter free. They should not be used for storage. Balconies can be an important escape route for residents or access point for firefighters
- Do not set off fireworks from your balcony
- If you smoke on your balcony, please do not discard cigarettes or smoking materials onto or over the balcony
Candles
Please be careful with candles and tea lights and avoid placing them where they can be easily knocked over, or on or near materials that could burn or catch fire, like curtains.
You should try to avoid leaving candles lit when you’re not in the room, and put them out completely at night.
You should try to avoid leaving candles lit when you’re not in the room, and put them out completely at night.
Electrics
Be extra careful
Portable heaters
Electric blankets
- Always use appliances in line with manufacturers’ instructions
- Overloading electrical sockets, extension or adaptors is dangerous and increases the risk of fire
- Certain appliances, such as washing machines or electric heaters that use a lot of electricity, should not be plugged into leads or adaptors
- Unplug appliances when you’re not using them, they are fully charged, or when you go to bed
- Always check that electrical items, such as white goods, are registered – at registermyappliance.org.uk – so that you can be informed if there is a safety issue. If you are given electrical items, you can check whether they are subject to a safety recall by visiting productrecall.campaign.gov.uk
- If you notice any signs of loose wiring, faulty or damaged plugs, sockets or fuses, please let us know immediately
- Don’t try to fix faulty electrics yourself. Let us know straight away so we can arrange for them to be repaired by a qualified electrician.
Portable heaters
- Try to keep close to walls where possible, to prevent accidental contact and reduce the risk of them being knocked over
- Avoid using heaters to dry clothes
- Avoid sitting too close to heaters to reduce the of burns
- Keep heaters away from curtains and furniture where possible.
Electric blankets
- If you use an electric blanket, you should unplug the blanket before you got to sleep, unless it
- has thermostatic controls for safe all-night use
- Electric blankets should be stored flat, rolled up or loosely folded
- Avoid buying second-hand electric blankets
- Check regularly for wear and tear, and always follow manufacturer’s instructions.
Hazardous materials
Keep your home free from hazardous materials. Chemicals like paint or petrol should be stored outside, as they could increase the risk of fire. Also, please do not store items in electrical cupboards or corridors as they become fire and/or trip hazards.
Testing your smoke alarm
- Test your smoke alarms at least once a month by pressing the button on them
- If your smoke alarms are not working please let us know as soon as possible
- If your smoke alarm goes off by mistake, do not tamper with the alarm. Please just wait for it to stop. Many alarms have a hush button that can be pressed to temporarily silence an alarm
- Smoke alarms usually need replacing every ten years
- If you hear a neighbour’s smoke alarm, please don’t ignore it. You should attempt to alert them in the first instance, but if they don’t respond, please call 999
Fire doors
Fire doors create a barrier which prevents fire and toxic smoke from travelling around your home or building during a fire.
They provide valuable time for people to evacuate. They also help make fires easier to tackle for the emergency services.
- Do not tamper with your fire doors in any way, such as drilling or cutting into your fire door, painting over the seals, or replacing the handles, hinges or any other parts of the door
- Ensure that your front door and internal doors are kept closed when not being used
- Do not remove or adjust the self-closing device on your front door
- Report any faults or damage to your fire doors to us immediately
Find out more about fire safety in your block
Each of our high-rise flat blocks has bespoke fire safety measures, as well as the information above, which applies to all blocks. Click the link below for you block to find out more.