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Original poster

To beg you all to have a fire evacuation plan

136 replies

WelshMaenad · 31/08/2012 20:51

my friend's house has gone up in flames this evening. Thankfully she and her dd were not home when it happened, but they have list everything. Her neighbours said that it went from a wisp of smoke to a blazing inferno within minutes, had they been home, maybe sleeping, they would have been in a lot of trouble.

I am going out to buy fire escape ladders tomorrow. Please please please review your escape options in your home. Seeing her house in flames has literally petrified me, it was horrific and so frightening.

OP posts:
elfycat · 31/08/2012 20:52

YANBU

We have one for if I'm home alone with the DDs and one for if OH is here.

PippasArse · 31/08/2012 20:53

I had firemen come and do a fire safety check, install new smoke alarms and discuss escape routes with me after Neil died

I'm ashamed it took me till I was the only living parent to my gorgeous girls and panicking about keeping them safe all on my own but we know what we would do now

firemansamisnormansdad · 31/08/2012 21:04

Our neighbour's garage spontaneously combusted last summer. It was horrific and she was lucky because she's the only one on the street to have a separate garage and not one attached to the house / integrally built. Fire is a killer, yet none of us really take it seriously. Well done you for raising this, OP x

mummmsy · 31/08/2012 21:08

fire escape plan? i have FOUR smoke alarms and one of those fire escape ladders you hang out the window? also,the keys are in the same place every night, no obstructions en route to back/front door and my 6yo (i'm a single mum) is well versed in 'get out, stay out, get the fire brigade out' and she knows that means with or without me! if she can't waken me, she knows she's to go on her own!

we only live in a 2 bed terrace house!

timetosmile · 31/08/2012 21:09

Totally support you OP.

It doesn't have to be complicated....we have a long rope under the bed with a loop already tied in one end, to latch around a sturdy bit of furniture which would allow us to climb out of the window safely.

Also a big rucsack to stuff smallest DC into if neccessary.

DCs have a backup "if you can't get to our room then cimb onto the garage roof" plan too.

Fire spreads extraordinarily fast.

But don't forget the basics...smoke alarm, no cigs in bed, no unwatched lit candles....

mummmsy · 31/08/2012 21:09

i'm sorry for your friend, also you must be shocked yourself

Lilicat1013 · 31/08/2012 21:15

We are kind of lacking in fire escape options. We are in a third floor flat with a drop on to concrete out of each window. There is one exit and no fire escape ladders would reach the ground from our windows.

On the plus side we have two smoke alarms wired in to the mains and every flat in the building has the same. Also as it is a new build (2 years old) I think it is built to quite high fire safety standards.

wherearemysocks · 31/08/2012 21:18

I'm very impressed with all your plans, I didn't even know you could get rope ladders etc.

I went to boarding school and we used to sit up at night in our dorms and plan how we would get out, we had some quite inventive plans, not sure they would have held up though. Things weren't as health and safety aware back then though and in hindsight we'd have actually been in a lot of trouble had there been a fire.

Now though we live in a flat above our pub so its a commercial building so we have very strict fire regulaions that we have to stick to and have regular drills and inspections. As a manager I am also the fire warden for the business and so I have been on the courses and it is extremely scary how quickly fire spreads.

babyhammock · 31/08/2012 21:18

Thanks for this thread. I'm going to get one of those fire escape ladders soon as and also start briefing DS on what to do... so easy to think it will never happen to you

ObviouslyOblivious · 31/08/2012 21:22

Can I implore especially those of you who live in flats about shops/offices etc that are unattended overnight to please do this.

Belmo · 31/08/2012 21:24

Where do you get fire ladders? I religiously test the batteries in the smoke alarms but don't know how we'd get out if trapped in the bedroom.

Tanith · 31/08/2012 21:29

We used to have one of those escape ladders, but the fire brigade don't recommend them. I think they consider them dangerous.
I'm paranoid about fire and we've been checked by the fire brigade for overnight minding. Their advice was never to leave anything plugged in overnight (apart from essentials like the fridge), shut all internal doors, and to have working fire alarms on both floors.

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 31/08/2012 21:30

Thanks.

This thread has made me think, will discuss with DH tonight.

( socks When I was at boarding school we used to sneak out our fire escape at night to meet boys Grin )

TwllBach · 31/08/2012 21:31

When we were younger, my mum used to make me and my
Brother practise it, every Friday night. My dad would go out for fish and chips and we would get ready for bed and my mum would make us get in to bed, turn all the lights off and then shout "fire! Fire'" and we had to pretend it was the fire alarm. We had to practice crawling on the floor in to the spare bedroom and climbing out of the window that went down on to the porch roof, as it wasn't a big drop and we could access the neighbours house from there.

DP and I live in a bungalow with windows in every room, so we would be ok. The cat would probably run and hide, so would more than likely die, unless she was clever enough to follow us out. We could probably break the back door down to get the dog from the kitchen, but of the fire started in there, she would have no chance Sad

Meglet · 31/08/2012 21:31

Yes. But also have smoke alarms in every room (except bathroom and kitchen).. Don't use candles, for Gods sake don't deep fry when drunk or smoke in bed.

andallthatjargon · 31/08/2012 21:31

We got home from holiday at 2am earlier this week. I asked DH to unlock the windows and he gave a loud sigh but I was not BU. My fire escape plan is to get one children's room each and out of the windows....... Luckily just a 2 floor house though.

LindyHemming · 31/08/2012 21:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

amillionyears · 31/08/2012 21:35

Would also advise people to check out their fire escape routes when in a hotel or B&B.
My family did it once at a travelodge,and because I touched the fire escape door or maybe accidentally opened it ,a member of staff came up to check that everything was ok Blush

TerraNotSoFirma · 31/08/2012 21:43

I have a plan, escape ladder and an extinguisher. My parents however, lock their windows and never know where the fucking keys are, it makes me so mad.

skateboarder · 31/08/2012 21:44

Like tanith i was told by the fire brigade that the ladders are not recommended. They told me to all get in one room upstairs and ring them and they would get there. I felt a bit happier after the fire brigade had been round.
Thanks op for raising this, i must drill the children what to do.

mummmsy · 31/08/2012 21:58

oh, that's really worrying about the ladders - it's like this one www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000H5S96A/ref=asc_df_B000H5S96A9462202?smid=ALF4HPK63BHUX&tag=hydra0b-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22218&creativeASIN=B000H5S96A&hvpos=1o2&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=18266775421427079434&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=

is that bad? i imagine using it at the back in case someone (unlikely i know) poured petrol through our letterbox?

also, EVERYTHING is switched off at night - there was a poster on here recently whose kitchen (?) went on fire because of a blender - just plugged in...

very worrying, i've been like this since phil set fire to the vic in eastenders about 20years ago!

AllThingsOrange · 31/08/2012 22:11

mummmsy. I did Grin at your post. You set such a good example.

OP, so sorry to hear about your friend.

mummmsy · 31/08/2012 22:14

i'm aware i'm totally bonkers orange, it's fine!

colleysmill · 31/08/2012 22:15

Yes mummmy it was havealittlefaiths food processor that went up just before last Christmas.

mummmsy · 31/08/2012 22:16

put the fear of god in me colleysmill what a nightmare for them

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