To ask how I get out my house if there was a fire? (Diagram)

[Hfksnbd]

I moved into a new house a couple of weeks ago and I'm really scared of a fire starting obviously I try to reduce the risk best I can but not sure how to actually get out with a toddler if one started.

House is a bit in the middle of nowhere so fire brigade would probably take time to get here. Downstairs is all open plan, one big room and because of where the front door is I don't know how we would get out in a fire If one started in the kitchen. (I'm thinking more at night when we are asleep)

There is just me and DD and she is just 2 so can't go through fire safety with her really. I have asked the fire brigade to come and advise but there is a 4 month waiting list.

One of your bedrooms should have fully opening window - this is a fire evacuation precaution (I was under the impression this was a building control thing). If it doesn't as you say then I would be seriously looking at having a window replaced to reflect this.

I'm surprised at a 4 month waiting list for your fire service to come out. Ours prioritise families with young children and the elderly.

Make sure you test your smoke alarms weekly and that the way to the exits are kept clear and you know where your keys are for both exits in case you can't leave via the front door.

Fire ladder. We have a 3 storey house and it was one of the first things we bought. Also fire blankets and extinguishers upstairs and downstairs

Def fire ladder - we keep one under the bed in our child’s room. On the basis you don’t want to go and get her and then have to go back into your room.
Also - and I learnt this from mumsnet - you can lower children down inside a duvet cover

You should have a smoke detector in every room OP. Not just the landing. If electeics went in your room or your daughters room by the time the smoke has got through the door it would be too late.

I'm a firefighter and we would be able to come out tonight if you phoned the station. Bit worried by some of the advice on here, I'd never recommend putting a mattress out the window as it might get stuck then we have no way into you either. You should have at least one smoke detector on each level and a heat detector in the kitchen. If there's a fire during the night get everyone into the same room and call 999. I used to take the fire survival calls and the people are amazing they will keep you safe with immediate advice till the fire service get there. Its never to young to start with your daughter we go out to nurseries all the time and teach kids about fire safety. Try not to worry, if you switch off all your appliances, dont smoke indoors and keep as many doors closed as possible that should give you more than enough time for the fire service to get to your house.

Does anyone know of the fire ladders work put over a section of double glazed window? We've just moved in to a new terraced and all but the bathroom window are top opening and no bottom sections open 😣

@fiveredbricks surely you’d smash the larger bit of the window and use the fire ladder through the game than faffing to get through a restricted smaller, higher window or am picturing it wrong?

*am I

Also if you are stuck and need to go out the window put your child in your duvet cover and lower it as far as you can reach out of the window. You should be able to half the fall that way.

LInked smoke alarms so if the one downstairs goes off then the one upstairs does as well.

My house is similar, my stairs are in the kitchen. I'd open an upstairs window and shut the door... throw mattresses out to jump on if things were desperate. I have fire alarms and it would probably take 10 mins for a fire engine to get here

I agree with Hannah4banana, mattresses are heavy, how are you supposed to get one out the window! Its really not safe to throw duvets etc out and try lowering yourself down. Also smashing the window could do more harm than good.

My house is similar.

I had to pay double for a new window that has ‘fire escape’ etched on it that is a straight drop 3 stories onto concrete. I’d never get my king sized mattress through that window

Have thought about a fire ladder, do they really work?

Does the kitchen have full height walls? If so you can install fire doors...they stay open on an electromagnetic catch - if the fire/smoke alarms go off, the circuit breaks and the fire doors close, shutting the fire in the kitchen and providing a safe escape route.

With your layout it wouldnt help if the fire started elsewhere downstairs though.

Probably the best thing to do is not set fire to your house

@AirBiscuit 🙄

Been on the sherry, love?

Advice from gov.uk re fire and safety :- assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/564803/Fire-Safety-in-the-Home.pdf

Our local Fire & Rescue do a lot of fire prevention, including coming out to the house to look at alarm placement and exit planning.

Fire ladders. If you only have top opening windows you need an escape hammer in the corner of the window.

Don’t leave anything with a lithium ion battery charging overnight. Charge everything in one place somewhere that leaves your exits free. Use original chargers only. Dispose of old laptops mobiles after 5 or so years. Don’t leave kitchen appliances on when you go out or overnight.

We had a house fire a few months ago. A laptop charging on an office desk exploded. Fire service were there in mere minutes but we were still homesless for 2 months. We are still recovering emotionally.

I can dig out the fire service advice we asked for if that helps.

Op you can't predict where a fire will start, ...all you can door is head for the nearest window/door and try to get out

Since this is worrying you maybe you could get a fire alarm installed...or even go further and get something like a fire extinguisher/fire blanket (there is actually indoor sprinklers that can be fitted into ceilings that will.go off if there's a fire)

Did you have these worries at your previous home op?..what about this home is causing you to have these worries?

If it makes you feel safer keep your mobile with you (so you know that you can call 999 in an emergency)

If you have a fire alarm at the top of the stairs you'll be able to get out before the stairs get cut off. You'll be able to go to whichever end of the house isn't on fire. Keep keys where you can find them in the dark.

We are very rural and had a fire assessment (we were approached for this because of our distance from a fire station and the fact that no one will reach us quickly). They were excellent and were clear that alarms are the best option and will stop you having to climb out of windows. They did suggest that we might want to have a large bag and rope upstairs in case we needed to lower dd1 (who was a baby at the time) out of a window.