Do you have a fire plan.

[CornishTiger]

Thinking about the absolutely awful news that has happened over the last few days it’s lead me to think about what we’d do in a fire.

We had discussed it when children were younger so we knew which of us would go to which bedroom and had a plan in mind.

We’ve moved since. Children have got older. We have just discussed it. Will make sure the children know what to do in event of a fire. Shout Fire rather than help. Keep low to ground etc.

Our smoke alarms actually sounded a couple of days ago and none of them had moved from rooms. Headphones on too! Activated I think by steam from bathroom.

It’s a scary thought but one we do need to consider. And check your smoke alarms. And any carbon monoxide detectors.

Last thing I know about the block was that they installed cladding on the side return up to the roof space and moved the bin store from its place the other side of the parking area to butt up against it as it had been torched a couple of times.

I don't think council tenant safety has ever been much of a concern for that LA.

Yes and will go over it.

Also adding more fire detectors (inc one in the attic). Also have carbon monoxide detectors.

Wondering whether to add a rope ladder. One wooden staircase. I think I will.

My local Fire Brigade no longer offer fire safety visits to homes
unless they meet certain narrow criteria

The details are horrific: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/news/gloucestershire/2025/december/woman-and-two-children-believed-to-have-died-in-stroud-house-fire/

Sounds like it tore through the house.

Yes we had a fire man come round and help us work out a plan and test out smoke and carbon monoxide alarms (many years ago now)

We usually keep our keys in the lounge. In the event of a fire we would be unlikely to get to them so I affixed a command hook to the wall next to the door where a small set of keys hang (out of view of the door/letter box) so we would go straight down the stairs and out of the door. Should we need to stay upstairs it would be my bedroom as it has the biggest window and furthest from the kitchen (most likely point of ignition)

We bought a fire extinguisher and blanket when our neighbour had a tumble dryer fire in their garage. They are the only house with a garage. Ours was in the kitchen and could have been so much worse. We've recently swapped to a dehumidifier instead

Fire terrifies me. As a kid I used to have nightmares i would die in a fire and the chill stayed with me so I like to be prepared.

DS is a teen now so much easier to 'train' him and he's a good head on his shoulders

Take the advice of an electrician, do not leave anything with Lithium Ion batteries on charge overnight or whilst you are out. Lithium Ion batteries are impressive in many ways (ability to hold charge, no charging memory and small) but they are also very explosive if damaged / worn out and can go off without warning when on charge.

Only use the original manufacturers chargers, or in the case of USB adapters, quality branded units, not cheapo Chinese knock offs that don't supply the correct voltage or have protections built in against overload and over heating.

Have a few good fire extinguishers around, a 2Kg CO2 and a 6 or 9 lite water and a bucket of dry sand as the extinguishers won't put out a battery.

I do, but it’s a bit ott. I survived a house fire and now I am paranoid. If it happens and we’re in bed then we have a window breaker and an unfolding ladder that sits on the window sill

No plan per se, but our fire alarms go off at the drop of a hat (every time I iron or use hair straighteners) so I'm confident they would do the trick in an actual emergency. I test them most days too, because I'm paranoid. Unfortunately our kids have now learned to tune them out because they go off so much, but DH and I are both light sleepers.

I've told the children time and time again to chuck themselves out of the nearest window in the event of an emergency. I've drilled it into them that few broken bones is far better than the alternative. Both kids bedrooms have a sloping roof beneath them so wouldn't be too bad at all.

I almost bought one of those rope ladders after the Grenfall fire, but decided against it because we're only two storeys.

It's so heartbreaking, Dbro was a childhood friend of the father and it's been on my mind all week. DH's best friend also died in an awful fire so it i suppose happens more often than you think.

I've had my robovac switched off unless im awake/using it which I now plan to do going forward, and I'm going to try and avoid phone charging too.

We are in a townhouse with high windows so not easy to escape, we're hopefully moving soon and i plan to keep keys very accessible etc.

Taking on board what someone has said that in a fire you wouldnt be likely to have time to fish a fire escape ladder out from under the bed and set it up in heavy smoke, would anyone have any other suggestions or advice? We live rurally where there is no permanent fire service, only a community fire station so the firefighters are far less trained and experienced and coming from their homes or jobs first so far longer response times. We would just need to get out ASAP. Our top floor would be too high to jump from though, definitely for my 2 and 4 year old. Their dad works away so it's usually just me with them so I couldnt throw them down to him. We are climbers though so now Im wondering about having a couple of lengths of rope somewhere accessible with a carabiner on the end of each and keeping their climbing harnesses with it and it would be a case of throwing on their harnesses and lowering them down on the ropes and then I can jump if I have no other way out. Would that work? Or even just having the ropes ready with a tightening loop that can be immediately put over their heads and tightened under their arms to drop them down, which would be faster than getting the harnesses on but less secure?

I know some might think it's overkill but we would have no other way out and Ive had a major fire in my own home as a child and knew 2 families who had family members die being trapped in their homes in fires and I would rather overthink and overplan than have that happen.

Thanks OP for starting this thread. No DC here but several pets and it really made me pause and think about how we’d cope.

I’ve just ordered extinguishers for upstairs and downstairs and a fire escape ladder for my bedroom and am giving some thought re: pets (will probably purchase a rope to store with the ladder so they can be lowered in my rucksack).

Also I get people say there isn’t time for this stuff in the event of a fire (setting up the ladder), but it’s a 20 second job since we have fire escape windows. I do realise we may not have time to save the pets but I can’t face not even having tried to have something available.

Would obvs block under the door first.

We’re also going to start closing all doors (except the bedroom because cats…).

We have an extinguisher and a fire blanket.

Get another litter box.

One thing to consider is having two ropes I think so that you’re not dependent on anyone being at the bottom to unclip the first child to use it for the second child IYSWIM?

IMO the escape ladders are like £50 and I’d rather have one and have the option to use it than have no option.

That's what I had been thinking with the ropes, having two. We already have an escape ladder which I keep under my bed but I think i would feel better having the ropes there and ready to get the kids out immediately and if I had the time I could get the ladder set up for myself and if not then lower myself out the window and jump.
This news has got me wondering about having rope ready in their bedroom as well in case I can get through to them but not back out, but obviously rope itself is dangerous so would need to find a way of storing it safely that's also easily accessible.

Why do people still charge phones etc at night?

I don’t know why people are obsessing over ropes and ladders. I’m a fire engineer, you don’t require them for means of escape in an average 2 storey house.

Early warning is what saves lives. But you should have egress windows to all habitable rooms on the first floor, smoke detectors in the circulation spaces and areas where a fire could start. First floor windows are considered survivable to drop from, if up to 4.5m from the ground. Keep doors shut. Having fire extinguishers is not a bad idea, but your focus should be on early warning and escape. If you have an integral garage, the door should be a fire door with smoke seals and a self closer.

if your house has a converted loft or is over 2 floors, you should have a fire strategy. Usually fire doors at all levels. If it’s a town house with 4 levels, you should have sprinklers or a separate fire escape.

Our house is old and completely non compliant by current standards. We have inner and inner-inner rooms. We have smoke detectors in every room. We did have a fire a couple of years ago. Thankfully, the fire service were here in 5 minutes despite our rural location.

I’m sure most people know this but just incase anyone hasn’t seen them before - if you have children who can sleep through alarms you can also get fire alarms that shout the word fire at the same time as the alarm x

I worked in community safety for a Fire and Rescue Service for nearly 30 years, it was my job to educate the community in home fire safety.

Ot is of course important to have a fire plan that everyone is aware of, to involve children by discussing this, and to practice it.

More important is fire prevention - so ensure you have a bedtime routine. Eg. candles are extinguished, putting water in ashtrays before emptying, turning off appliances except those with timers/fridges and freezers, closing all internal doors.

All internal doors have to be fire resistant for at least 30 mins. In most areas the Fire Service should reach you in less than 6 mins.

You should have smoke detectors in any room where a fire could start and a heat detector in the kitchen. Preferably these should be linked if possible.

You should be able to evacuate the home and call the fire brigade from outside, closing each door you go through to prevent fire spread. If there is smoke, stay low, and ‘bump’ down the stairs to prevent falls.

If you are unable to evacuate, get everyone into one room, block the gap under the door with a pillow or towel, open the window for ventilation and shout FIRE!

Do not try to escape by through the window unless the room is smokelogged and you can feel heat through the door, (Many people sustain injuries falling from height). Fire Crews will assist you out by ladder if necessary. Tell children never to hide in their rooms, but to stay by the window.

Follow instructions from the Control Officer who will stay on the phone with you.

Have a look at the website for your local Fire and Rescue Service. Many have online home fire safety checkers which will alert you to any fire risks. They will also provide free home fire safety visits to vulnerable households.

If you are buying fire extinguishers, don't waste money on little domestic ones, full size commercial ones are really cheap and have a lot more extinguishing in them.

I have 2Kg CO2 and 9 Litre water at front and back doors and in the airing cupboard.

A 2Kg CO2 will cost about £30 and a 9 litre water around £35 - the water type generally have a gauge on to check them and the CO2 are checked by weighing - replace every 5 years.

I have just seen this Saffold fixed ladder. It folds into itself on the outside wall. To use it you pull out a safety pin and open it out. When closed it looks narrow like a drain pipe does.

https://www.safelincs.co.uk/saffold-fold-out-fixed-fire-escape-ladder/

I'm always pretty vigilant about fire safety - turning plugs off, closing doors, no cheap chargers etc. This tragic story today has made me extra paranoid and so I did a extra check around the house before going to bed. Found out DH has been daisy chaining extension leads in his office to his desk with laptop chargers and all sorts plugged in over night for months!!!!! I'm so angry as I thought it was common knowledge not to do this. So just a reminder to everyone to check for this too!

Is it, I'm an electrician, please do explain how daisy chaining extensions is dangerous, I must have missed that bit.