• Fit smoke alarms on every floor level, keep them clean, and test them once a week.
• Make a fire action plan so everyone knows how to escape. Ensure keys for doors and windows are easy to find.
• Keep exits clear of obstacles to make sure everyone can escape easily. Do not place electrical devices such as ebike/escooters whilst “on-charge” within the escape route or adjacent to the final escape door.
• Be careful in the kitchen – cooking accidents cause 59% of home fires.
• Be extra cautious with hot cooking oil – consider using an electric deep fat fryer with a thermostat if you don’t already.
• Never leave lit candles unattended and always place them in a secure, non-flammable holder.
• Dispose of cigarette butts carefully and never smoke in bed.
• Avoid overloading electrical sockets, especially when using multi-socket extensions.
• Don’t leave the TV or other appliances on standby.
• Keep matches and lighters away from children.

• Never leave a candle unattended, and always extinguish it before going to sleep.
• Make sure the candle is standing straight and is securely placed in a proper holder so it can't fall over. Scented candles turn to liquid while burning, so always use a suitable glass or metal container that won’t leak and can handle the heat.
• Place candles on a heat-resistant surface. Nightlights and tealights can melt plastic surfaces, like TV tops or bathtub edges.
• Keep candles away from draughts, blowing curtains, and sources of heat or direct sunlight.
• Leave at least 10 cm (4 inches) between candles, and never place them under shelves or other surfaces.
• Extinguish candles before they burn into the holder.
• Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.
• Always put candles out before moving them. Using a 'snuffer' or spoon is safer than blowing them out, which can send sparks and hot wax flying.
• Consider adding an extra smoke alarm in rooms where you burn candles.
• NEVER use outdoor candles indoors.
• NEVER lean across a candle – you could set your hair or clothes on fire.
• NEVER play with candles.

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storing your electric bike or scooter.
• Install smoke or heat detectors in the room or garage where you charge or store your electric bike/scooter.
• Store electric bikes, scooters, and their batteries in a cool place. Avoid places that are too hot or cold.
• Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for storing and maintaining lithium-ion batteries if they won’t be used for a while.
• Always use the charger approved by the manufacturer.
• Don’t overcharge your battery, and always unplug the charger once it’s finished.
• Never leave batteries charging while you’re asleep or away from home.
• Don’t cover chargers or battery packs while they are charging, as this could cause overheating or fire.
• Don’t charge or store your electric bike/scooter near combustible or flammable materials. If a fire occurs due to a bike, scooter, or lithium-ion battery, do not attempt to put it out. Get out, stay out, and call 999.
• Do not store or charge e-bikes/scooters in escape routes or communal areas where they could block an exit.

We take the safety of residents in multi-storey buildings very seriously and work closely with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service to help keep everyone safe from fire.

• Fire safety in these buildings is governed by many regulations and regularly checked through inspections by Lancaster city Council’s compliance team staff, fire risk assessors, and the fire service.
• The main method of fire safety is compartmentation, where each flat acts as a fire-resistant unit to keep the fire contained and slow its spread.
• The stairwells are also fire-resistant to allow for safe escape. There are fire doors fitted to all Flats and other rooms/cupboards to stop smoke and fire from spreading into the stairwell – it is crucial to keep these doors closed.
• We ensure the fire precautions built into multi-storey buildings are well-maintained. Where there are breaches in compartments, such as for pipes or cables, these are sealed with materials that automatically protect the area in the event of a fire.
• Please note; if you live in a Block of Flats that has a communal fire alarm system installed for the safety of the occupants, Lancaster City Council’s specialist appointed Contractors will need to access your Flat at least once per year to check the fire detection device ( usually in the hallway ), linked to the fire alarm panel.
• Additionally, if you live in a Block more than 18m high LCC will need to access your Flat once per year to check the condition of the flat entrance (fire door). In other Blocks this will also happen but less frequently. The fire doors in the communal areas/common parts of all Blocks are regularly checked by LCC staff.
• In case of a fire, always call the Fire Brigade by dialling 999.
• You can also find more useful fire safety advice on the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service website. by clicking here

if at any point you should have concerns about either your Flat Entrance (fire door) or any other fire door in the Block you live in, please contact our Customer Services Team by calling 01524 582929 or emailing councilhousing@lancaster.gov.uk

We carry out fire risk assessments for all our multi-storey buildings where two or more residents share a common part/communal area  and these are regularly reviewed to ensure safety.

The assessments are completed by independent fire risk assessors and are designed to highlight key actions to ensure the safety of the buildings.

If your building isn’t a high-rise or listed below, please contact the Compliance Team at compliance@lancaster.gov.uk to request a copy of the fire risk assessment.

We work closely with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service ( LFRS ) to make sure residents in our blocks are safe from fire.

Safe and Well Visits:

To improve fire safety awareness LFRS are offering Home Fire Safety Checks visits to customers living in our blocks. If you’d like to book a visit, just call freephone 0800 169 1125 or visit the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service website.

These visits are part of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s commitment to reducing fires, injuries, and deaths. They make sure every home has working smoke alarms and that residents get the right fire safety advice. The aim is to prevent fires and improve wellbeing for everyone.

What Does a Safe and Well Visit Involve?

During the visit, firefighters will ask about the health and lifestyle of the people in the home. Based on this, they’ll offer the best fire safety advice for your household. If anyone in the home needs extra help, they can provide advice, share additional information, or direct you to other services that can assist.

If you have any concerns about fire safety in your block, please contact Council Housing on 01524 582929. If you don’t live in one of our blocks, you can still book a free Safe and Well visit by calling Lancashire Fire and Rescue on 0800 169 1125 or by visiting https://www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/ .

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service wants to help you stay safe from fire at home, especially now that the cost of living is rising.

If you're making changes at home to save on bills, it's important to do so safely. This may involve being aware of any new hazards that could come with adjusting your usual routine.

Because of the rise in living costs, it’s more important than ever to:

• Fit a working smoke alarm on every floor of your home, so you’re alerted quickly if there’s a fire.
• Do not be tempted to tamper with or try to modify the electrical or gas supplies to your home or use portable appliances such as calor-gas/butane/propane or similar naked flame devices for heating or cooking purposes.