Important Fire Safety
Most fires in the home start accidentally and the effects can be devastating
It’s important that you know how to reduce the chances of a fire starting in your home and keep yourself, your family and your property safe from fire.
Click here for important information and advice from London Fire Brigade's website or read their Fire Safety at home leaflet here.
How at risk of fire is your home?
London Fire Brigade can assess your home for free and offer advice on how to make it safer; where appropriate they will fit a smoke alarm.
The home fire safety visit is usually for people regarded as having a higher risk of fire in the home, such as:
- Older people living alone.
- People with mobility, vision or hearing impairments.
- People accessing mental health service users.
- Those liable to intoxication through alcohol and/or drug use.
If you are concerned that your home may be at risk of fire, or you know someone who you think needs our help, you can arrange a free home fire safety visit.
- Book an appointment online now
- Call to make an appointment on 0800 028 44 28
Evacuation Guidance
The Fire Brigade's advice is that if you live in a house converted into flats, and become aware of a fire in a neighbouring flat, you should leave the building immediately, providing it is safe to do so and wait outside, at a safe distance, for the emergency services to arrive.
Click on the picture below to open up our fire action guidance
More information about fire safety can be found on the London Fire Brigade website here
Action to take in the event of a fire.
- All homes should have working smoke alarms. All residents should regularly test their smoke alarms.
- If you discover a fire in your flat, make sure all occupants of your flat leave immediately, closing doors behind you and make your way out of the building. Immediately call the Fire Brigade on 999.
- If either your smoke alarm or a neighbours smoke alarm alerts you to a possible fire, again leave the building immediately, closing doors and windows behind you and make your way out of the building. Immediately call the Fire Brigade on 999.
- It is particularly important to make sure your flat front door is closed to stop the fire following you and also blocking the escape route for your neighbours.
- If your escape route is affected by fire or smoke and you are unable to leave the building, stay in your flat in a room with a window, call the Fire Brigade on 999 and they will provide life safety advice until fire crews arrive at the building.
PEEPS - Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans are escape plans for people who need help evacuating a building if there’s a fire. In April 2026 all residents who live in a property over 11 meters tall and who need a PEEP should have one.
Examples of streets with properties which are over 11 meters tall include some properties on:
Beresford Road
Essex Road
Grosvenor Avenue
Mildmay Grove
Harecourt Road
Milner Square
Pyrland Road
If you live in a building over 11 meters tall and want to agree a PEEP with us, you do not need to wait for us to contact you. You can contact our Housing Team to arrange an appointment on 0800 587 3595 or via [email protected].
Making Sure Your Alarms Work
Fitting alarms save lives, but only if they are working. Test yours every month.
It’s as simple as pushing the button.
- Change the battery if it starts to bleep on a regular basis.
- Never disconnect or take the batteries out of your alarms if they go off by mistake.
- Some alarms are fitted with 10 year or long-lasting sealed batteries, these should not be removed or replaced as doing so will damage the alarms beyond repair.
Last updated February 2026