What is your building’s evacuation strategy?

The advice on what to do if there is a fire in your building is different, dependant on the evacuation strategy in place.

If you’re not sure whether your building is operating a ‘Stay Safe’ policy or evacuation strategy, contact your housing provider or the managing agent for the building.

If the evacuation strategy for your building is ‘Stay Safe’ (you may also hear this called a ‘Stay Put’ policy): This means that if there is a fire in your flat you should leave the flat and the building. If there is a fire somewhere else in the building, you can remain in your flat and do not need to leave the building.

Visit this page for information on what to do if you have a fire, or become aware of a fire, for residents living in flats operating a ‘Stay Safe’ policy (internal webpage).

If your building operates an evacuation strategy: This means that if there is a fire somewhere else in the building you must evacuate even if your flat does not seem to be affected. Failure to evacuate the building upon hearing the fire alarm puts you at serious risk in the event of a fire and could put firefighters at risk.

Visit this page for information on what to do if you have a fire, or become aware of a fire, for residents living in flats operating evacuation strategies (internal webpage).

The videos below explain what you should do in the event of a fire in a block of flats operating a 'Stay Safe' policy, and a block of flats operating an evacuation policy.