Home safety

How to keep your flat safe

Your front door is a fire door which keeps you and your neighbours safe. Never prop it open or remove the metal arm or chain which closes it. If it doesn’t close on its own then let your landlord, managing agent, social housing provider or housing association know as soon as possible. 

Closing all the doors in your household can help to prevent a fire from spreading. It’s advised to prioritise closing your kitchen and lounge doors as these areas are higher risk.

Don’t leave your cooking unattended. Unattended cooking is one of the leading causes of fires and can begin and spread quicker than you think. 

What to do if a fire is in your building

It’s important for your own safety to understand what to do in the event of a fire, whether it’s in your flat or somewhere else in the building.

If there is a fire or smoke in your flat you should:

• never try to fight a fire yourself
• close the door of the room where the fire is if it’s safe to do so
• alert any other people in your flat and activate any manual fire alarms
• get out, stay low if there is smoke, close all doors behind you and stay out
• call the fire service by dialling 999, stay on the line as you evacuate the building. Never assume someone else has called
• always use the stairs to get out of the building and keep left. Don’t use a lift unless instructed by a firefighter. This is because the fire may cause a power failure, trapping you inside. It may also stop firefighters from using it to transport equipment to higher levels
• not go back into the building to retrieve valuables or pets until the fire service says it is safe to do so

It’s important to find out where the muster point for your building is which is usually outside of your building in a specific area. Contact your landlord to find out where your muster point is for your building. It’s dangerous to gather in the hallway or lobby area as you might block access for firefighters.

Fire in another part of the building

For many buildings it’s safer for you to stay in your flat, however some flats in interim measures may have a full evacuation plan instead. You should find out what the advice is for your building from your landlord and know your escape plan.

If you do feel unsafe or your flat is affected by heat or smoke, then get out and call the fire service by dialling 999 and stay on the line.

If a member of the fire service tells you to leave the building, you should do so immediately.

If you’re cut off by fire

If a fire is blocking your escape route you should:

• stay inside the safest room with a window that opens to fresh air, ring 999 and stay on the line for advice
• keep the door closed and use towels or bedding at the bottom of the door to block the smoke
• go to the balcony or window so that you can be seen. Do not try to jump to safety.
• wait to be rescued by a firefighter

Firefighters may put up smoke curtains, that help smoke from spreading, if you need to escape, you can easily go through the curtain. The Firefighters may put a smoke hood over your head to help you escape, it helps filter toxic smoke from the air.

Know your escape plan

Ask your landlord or housing provider for the evacuation plan for your building if you don’t already have it. There are usually 2 tiers which are used when considering a building evacuation. 

Stay put

Unless the fire is in your flat or a direct neighbour’s, it’s advised that you stay in your home and keep your front door and windows closed. Stay together, tune into local TV or radio and await instructions from emergency services. Firefighters will knock on your door if they need you to evacuate. Unnecessary evacuation can obstruct firefighters and delay them putting the fire out.

Partial evacuation

The fire service may decide to evacuate the building. This may be done on a floor-by-floor basis.

Plan your escape

Make sure you and those you live with know how to escape in the event of a fire. You should:

• keep your doorways and hallways free from clutter. This includes communal areas. Report any discarded rubbish to your landlord
• choose a second escape route if there is one, in case the first one is blocked
• keep door and window keys accessible, avoid keeping them in the kitchen, as this is where most fires in the home start. Everyone in the flat should know where the keys are
• only try and escape through a window if you're on the ground or first floor (under 3m in height) and your escape route is blocked. If you're higher up, wait to be rescued by firefighters
• Stay out your property once you've escaped. Don't go back inside your home, even if there is someone or pets left inside. Wait for firefighters and when they arrive give them as much information as possible
• never block emergency access to your building or the hydrants. Firefighters need to get their fire engines as close as possible to the entrance and be able to access the hydrants for additional water supply

Your building may have dry or wet riser pipes, which run internally through the block and are usually painted red. The pipes provide water to higher floors to tackle fires. It is important that you report any damage to this equipment as soon as you see it.

Balcony safety

Balconies can be a great place to spend time and get some fresh air. Make sure you enjoy your balcony safely. When using your balcony you should:

• not use chimeneas, BBQs, disposable BBQs, fire pits, candles, or any other form of open fire under any circumstances. They are a high risk fire hazard and the fumes can travel upwards to other flats and cause CO poisoning
• never store or set off fireworks or flares on your balcony
• remove rubbish, reduce clutter, and try and keep items on the balcony to a minimum, such as soft furnishings, flags and drying laundry
• never store flammable materials such as gas bottles on your balcony
• make sure you stub cigarettes out and never flick them off your balcony if you smoke. Use a suitable ashtray and dispose of the contents safely by using a metal bucket full of water or sand

If you have concerns about balconies on your building in the first instance, contact your landlord.

• alert everyone in your home: get together and take your planned route out
• meet at your agreed point
• leave valuables and pets
• feel doors before opening: if warm, don't open them as the fire is on the other side
• shut all doors behind you on the way out
• never use lifts
• stay outside: don't go back in to rescue pets or valuables 
• call 999 immediately and wave down the fire engines when they arrive

1. stop: don't run, as your clothes will burn faster
2. drop: lie down. This makes it harder for the fire to spread, especially to your face and head as flames burn upwards
3. roll: this smothers the flames. You can also use heavy material like a coat or blanket to smother flames

Smoke alarms should be tested and working. 

You need at least one working alarm in the hallway leading the way out of the home. 

With more electrical items now found in living rooms and bedrooms, we strongly advise that you install smoke alarms here too. 

Smoke alarms should be located in any habitable room such as; living rooms, bedrooms, utilities and studies, and should be interlinked. 

Alarms have improved over the years and you can now get battery operated ones that can be interlinked with each other with no need for wires. 

You can find them at most hardware stores or online.

Look while you cook:

• stand by your pan and don’t get distracted or leave it unattended
• take care when consuming alcohol, as you can become drowsy and fall asleep when cooking

Faulty electrics or appliances have caused over 32% of fires in homes in Jersey. Make sure you:

• avoid using appliances overnight when you are sleeping. Fires take longer to be discovered and your family is at risk

Appliances can be defective and manufacturers will recall these items. To receive information if your appliances are recalled, register your white goods

Before you go to bed:

• turn off any electrics at the socket that are not being used
• don’t overload sockets
• don’t turn on your washing machines, tumble dryers or dishwashers overnight
• close internal doors at night

It only takes one candle to put your home and family at risk – always take the following precautions when using them and keep these safety tips in mind:

Where should I put candles?

Candles are best placed:

• on a heat-resistant surface – especially night lights and tea lights, which can get hot enough to melt plastic
• in a proper candle holder, so there is no chance they can fall over
• out of reach of children and pets
• out of draughts and away from curtains, other fabrics or furniture, which could catch fire
• with at least one metre (three feet) between the candle and any surface above it
• with at least 10 centimetres (four inches) between any two candles
• away from clothes and hair – if there’s any chance you could forget a candle is there and lean across it, put it somewhere else

Putting candles out

Never leave a lit candle unattended. Make sure you:

• put candles out before you leave a room and before you go to bed
• never leave a burning candle or oil burner in a child’s bedroom
• use a snuffer or a spoon to put them out – blowing them can send sparks and hot wax flying
• double-check that they are completely out and not still smouldering

Candles and celebrations

Candles and night lights are often used in celebrations for Christmas, Diwali and other festivals. Make sure you don’t put candles in or by a Christmas tree, or other plants, flowers or foliage.  You should also be careful that ribbons, greeting cards and other decorations such as tinsel are kept away from candle flames.​

Tobacco is manufactured to stay alight, meaning that it can easily remain smouldering and start a fire. Follow these safety tips to avoid causing a fire:

• never smoke in bed – it is very easy to fall asleep and allow your cigarette to set light to bedclothes and furnishings
• don’t smoke if you are drowsy – especially if you're sitting down in a comfortable chair or if you have been drinking or taking prescription drugs
• don’t leave a lit cigarette (or cigar or pipe) balancing in an ashtray – they can easily overbalance and land on the carpet or other flammable material. Also ensure your ashtray is heavy and placed where it cannot tip easily
• make totally sure that cigarette butts (and any remains in your pipe bowl) aren’t still smouldering when you’ve finished with them. Wet them and empty your ashtray into a metal bin outside the house
• keep lighters, matches and smoking materials out of the reach of children – consider buying child-resistant lighters and containers for matches

Take care of your alarms to ensure they work correctly.

• vacuum your alarms with a soft brush vacuum nozzle every three months and wipe over with a damp cloth to remove any dust
• replace the whole unit after 10 years
• for non-sealed battery-operated alarms, change the batteries once a year
• never take the batteries out of your alarm to use in another electrical item. An alarm without batteries cannot warn you if a fire starts

• a smoke alarm is a warning device that detects smoke at the earliest stages of a fire
• a heat alarm is a warning device that detects an increase in temperature from a fire
• heat alarms are more suitable for detecting fires in kitchens or other rooms where steam, fumes or moisture could cause nuisance alarms in smoke alarms
• when a smoke or heat alarm detects a fire, it will make a piercing noise to alert or wake you. There are alternative systems for those who are dDeaf
• some detectors can be wirelessly interlinked throughout your home
• many people killed in house fires are asleep at the time
• a smoke or heat alarm can wake you up and give you vital extra time to escape

Smoke alarms cost around £30 and are available from DIY stores, electrical shops and high-street retailers.

There are different types of smoke alarms available. Some use optical sensor technology and are typically more effective at detecting slow burning fires. Others use ionisation sensor technology which are typically more effective at detecting fast, flaming fires. Multi sensor alarms are also available.

If possible, fit an optical multi sensor smoke alarm with a ten-year life span. Buying an alarm with a sealed battery compartment will help to prevent tampering or removal of the battery. Whichever model you choose, look out for one which has a British Standard Kitemark symbol.

We can offer free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, designed specifically for those with hearing loss. The alarms feature strobe lighting and vibrating pads to alert people to a fire in their home, even if they remove their hearing aids at night.

You can also consider linking smoke alarms so that when one goes off, they all go off.

In the event of a fire, if it is difficult for you to call 999 yourself, ask a neighbour to do it for you or text 07797 797934.

Anyone wanting advice about installing fire safety equipment should contact the states of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service Fire Prevention team at Rouge Bouillon, St Helier. 

Accidental exposure to CO kills more than 50 people each year in England and Wales. It can kill without warning, sometimes in a matter of minutes. Low levels that don’t kill you can still cause serious harm.

There are many ways to protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning, such as:

• fit an audible CO alarm that meets European Standard EN 50291, showing a British Standards Kitemark or LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board) logo
• make sure that you follow the alarm manufacturer’s instructions for installation and maintenance
• you can also buy CO detection patches and ‘black-spot’ indicators, but these will not wake you and warn you if dangerous levels of CO develop
• have all appliances, flues and chimneys correctly installed and serviced by trained, reputable, registered and competent engineers – do not attempt to do this yourself
• if you're going on holiday you may wish to take a battery-operated audible CO alarm with you

CO poisoning can be difficult to detect, because its symptoms are the same as those of many other common ailments. You may experience:

• headaches
• tiredness
• difficulty thinking clearly
• feeling sick

Sometimes it may feel as though you have food poisoning or that you are coming down with flu. You may also notice that the symptoms are less severe if you are away from your property.

Those most vulnerable to the effects of CO poisoning are:

• older people
• pregnant women and their babies
• children
• those with breathing problems or heart disease

Carbon monoxide poisoning in NHS choices website

 If you think you may have a CO leak you should:

• turn off all appliances that use fuel other than electricity
• open the windows  
• leave the room
• see a doctor at once
• call a suitably qualified engineer to check all your appliances
• if you rent a property, your landlord should be able to assist in resolving the matter  

Heating appliances must be able to ‘breathe’ in order to function efficiently, whatever type of fuel they burn. They require a constant and sufficient flow of air, so make sure the room is not completely airtight. If you have draught-proofing or double glazing fitted you may need vents or air bricks in an exterior wall of the room. Also follow these safety tips:

• never block air bricks or vents, or the outside grille of a flue
• make sure new water heaters in a bathroom are fitted to a balanced flue
• if you fit an extractor fan or hood, make sure it doesn’t suck toxic fumes back down flues or chimneys
• have your gas or oil fired boiler serviced and the flue checked once a year

If any gas or electrical appliances, pipes or wires have been affected by fire, it may be necessary to isolate the supply. In addition to this, it may be necessary for the service provider to disconnect the supply. If you are unsure, contact your provider for advice. All repairs to gas, water and electrical fixtures should be carried out by a suitably qualified engineer.

Do not be tempted to turn on any isolated supply until it is safe to do so and following the advice of an engineer.

• call your insurance company's (24 hour) emergency helpline as soon as possible. They will be able to provide information on dealing with your claim and provide assistance in getting things back to normal
• your insurers may wish to inspect the damage before you remove items from your property
• if emergency or temporary repairs are required, you should keep the invoices or receipts for these to help with any future insurance claim
• if you are not the owner of the property, buildings insurance claims will normally be dealt with by the relevant housing department, association or your landlord
• your insurance company may require a fire report

The Fire and Rescue Service produces a report on every incident they attend. This report may be made available upon written request. The administration fee for the preparation and issue of a fire report is £672. 

When would a fire be subject to an in-depth investigation?

All fire reports completed by the Fire and Rescue Service contain information as to the most likely cause of the fire. If this is not immediately clear, specialist fire investigators from the Fire and Rescue Service may be called in to conduct a more detailed investigation.

This may involve:

• interviewing people at the scene of the fire
• a thorough and detailed examination of the fire scene and debris
• taking photographic evidence

In the course of their duties, specialist Fire and Rescue Service fire investigation officers may liaise with loss adjusters, insurance companies and other specialists to assist in settling claims and determining the cause of a fire.