Humberside Fire
And Rescue
Service

If a fire starts the priority is to get everyone out and call 999. Don't try to fight a fire yourself.

• Make sure everyone knows where the keys to doors and windows are kept.
• Choose an escape route. The best route is usually the normal way in and out of your home. Think of any difficulties you or the other people in your household may have.
• Choose a second escape route as well and keep all these routes clear. Remember - if you live on a ground floor, a window could be used as an escape route.
• Plan the order that you will escape in, so that if you have to go out of a window you can help others down (ground and first floor only).
• Choose a safe room. If you can't escape you will need to find a room where you can wait for the Fire Service. A safe room should have a window and a telephone.

In the Event of a Fire

If the smoke alarm goes off or you discover a fire, shout to wake everyone up/alert them and get everyone together. Follow your escape plan and get out of the building.

Raise the Alarm and Get Out

• Do not stop to investigate the fire or to collect valuables or pets.
• Use your escape route to get everyone out and meet at an agreed point.
• Close any doors which are open, and only open the doors you need to go through. This will help to stop the fire spreading so rapidly.
• Check doors with the back or your hand. If a door is warm, don’t open it, the fire is on the other side.
• If there is a lot of smoke, crawl along the floor as the air is cleaner.
• Once you’ve got everyone out of the building, call 999 from any phone. Give the operator your name and address.
• Don’t go back into the building for anything. If there is still someone inside, tell firefighters when they arrive – they will be able to find the person quicker and more safely than you.
• Find somewhere safe to wait for the Fire Brigade. When they arrive, try to give them as much information as possible about the fire and building.

If You Can't Escape

• Get everyone into one room, preferably one with a window that opens and that has a phone in it. Close the door and wait to be rescued.
• Put bedding or towels along the bottom of the door to seal the gap, to prevent smoke and fumes from getting into the room.
• Open the window and stay near it for fresh air, and to alert firefighters when they arrive.
• If you have a phone, call the fire brigade. If you don’t have a phone, shout for help so that someone else can phone for you.

• Switch off and unplug all electrical appliances not designed to stay on. Many people including children, now have electrical appliances such as TV's, computers etc. in their bedrooms. Where these are present in such rooms, it is important that those not designed to remain on for 24hrs should be unplugged. Do you or your children ensure that this is done? As an added precaution, a smoke alarm should be fitted in the bedroom to give you warning of a fire in your or your children's rooms.
• Make sure no cigarettes or pipes are still burning. Never smoke in bed, you may fall asleep and drop the cigarette end onto bedclothes.
• Before emptying ashtrays make sure the contents are cold. If in doubt, douse them with a little water and place the ashtray on a surface which will not easily ignite such as a kitchen work top.
• Switch off portable heaters.
• Close the doors to all rooms. Smoke will still reach your detector as a fire will build up pressure in a room and force it out through gaps (however small) around the door.
• Place your door keys near the exit door.
• A correctly installed and working smoke alarm can give early warning allowing you and your family those valuable extra minutes to make your escape.

If Fire Breaks Out

• If you can safely do so, close the door of the room where the fire has started and close all other doors behind you. This will help delay the spread of smoke.
• Before opening a closed door, use the back of your hand to touch it. Don't open it if it feels warm - the fire will be on the other side.
• Alert everyone. Get everyone out as quickly as possible. Don't try to pick up valuables or possessions. Make your way out as safely as possible and try not to panic. Plan your escape route now so that this is as safe and easy as possible. Don't wait until a fire starts.
• Telephone the fire and Rescue Service on 999 from a mobile phone, a neighbours house or the nearest phone box.
• Never go back into your home until a fire officer has told you it is safe.
• Alert your neighbours so they can get to a safe distance too if neccesary.

If Your Escape is Blocked by Fire

• Try to remain calm.
• Alert everyone and, if possible, gather everyone into one room (if possible one with a telephone or take a mobile phone with you).
• Don't open the door of a room if it feels warm when touched with the back of your hand If you are prevented from getting out because of flames or smoke, close the door nearest to the fire and use towels, pillows, cushions or clothing to block any gaps. This will help stop smoke spreading into the room.
• Go to the window. If the room becomes smoky, go down to floor level - it's easier to breathe because the smoke will rise upwards.
• Open the window, try to attract the attention of others who can alert the fire and rescue service. Wait for the fire and rescue service, they should arrive in a matter of minutes. Stay at the open window.
• If you are on the first floor it may be possible to lower yourself from the window sill to arm's length before dropping to the ground.
• If you are in immediate danger, drop cushions or bedding to the ground to break your fall from the window. Get out feet first and lower yourself to the full length of your arms before dropping.
• If there are two adults one should go first to catch children. Pass them down slowly, stretching to full length before letting go. No one should ever jump.
• If you are trapped in a higher storey, lean out of the window for fresh air until the Fire and Rescue Service arrives.

If Someone Else's Clothes Catch Fire

• Lay them to the ground.
• Wrap them in a coat or rug.
• Roll them around to extinguish the flames.
• If you burn or scald yourself wash the affected area with copious amounts of water and seek medical help.

• Be vigilant!
• Don't leave children alone in the home for any reason.
• Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
• Don't leave children alone in the kitchen when cookers are in use.
• Use fixed guards around all fires and heaters when children are about.
• When fitting out a childs room remember that a fixed wall heater, radiator or storage heater is safer than a portable heater which might get knocked over.
• Fit a smoke alarm.
• Extra guards should be placed around all heaters within the reach of young children.
• Don't tempt children to get close to a fire by placing items on a mantle shelf.
• Teach children to stay away from fire of any kind.
• During your bedtime routine, check your children's bedroom and remove any unused plugs. With older children, teach them to remove unused plugs before going to bed.

Remember it is dangerous to leave children somewhere on their own.

• Make sure that your planned escape route remains free of any obstructions and that there are no loose floor coverings that could trip you up.
• If you have a serious mobility difficulty you may wish to consider having your bedroom on the ground floor (if this is practical) and as near as possible to an exit.
• If you would need assistance to make your escape, it is vital that you have some means of summoning help by your bed, i.e. a buzzer, intercom or telephone.
• If possible, close the door of the room where the fire is and close all doors behind you as you leave. This will help delay the spread of fire and smoke.
• Before opening a closed door use the back of your hand to touch it. Don't open it if it feels warm - the fire will be on the other side.
• Get every one out as quickly as possible.
• Don't try to pick up valuables or possessions.
• Make your way out as safely as you can and try not to panic.
• Keep your door keys near the door to ensure that you can exit your premises in a hurry.
• Smoke rises so stay low where it is easier to breathe.

The most important thing is to buy a smoke alarm and make sure it always works. The extra time a warning from a smoke alarm will give you could save your life. There are several ways that alarms can be adjusted to suit people with hearing impairments etc. Please read the smoke alarms page for more information.

Tips

• Make sure that your planned escape route remains free of any obstructions and that there are no loose floor coverings that could trip you up.
• If you have a serious mobility difficulty you may wish to consider having your bedroom on the ground floor, if this is practical, and as near as possible to an exit.
• If you would need assistance to make your escape, it is vital that you have some means of summoning help by your bed, i.e. a buzzer, intercom or telephone.
• If possible, close the door of the room where the fire is and close all doors behind you as you leave. This will help delay the spread of fire and smoke.
• Do you have guests staying such as grandchildren? If so what provision have you made for them in case of fire?
• Before opening a closed door use the back of your hand to touch it. Don't open it if it feels warm - the fire will be on the other side.
• Get every one out as quickly as possible.
• Don't try to pick up valuables or possessions.
• Make your way out as safely as you can and try not to panic.
• Smoke rises so stay low where it is easier to breathe.
• Telephone the Fire and Rescue Service on 999 from a neighbour's house or a telephone box. How to make a 999 call.
• Never go back into the house until a Fire Officer has told you it is safe to do so.