Three Story House Fire Escape with Small Children

[ManchesterConfused]

Just wondered what others had done in terms of fire safety with small children.

We live in a 3 story house and have interlinked fire alarm system, blanket, extinguisher (not that I’d use unless I had to, would aim to just get out) and lock downstairs doors at night, switch off appliances. We also have an escape ladder on the 3rd floor. This is what I worry about.

I have a (possibly irrational fear) of fire, and if there was a situation where there was a fire blocking stairwell and we had to use the escape ladder, how would we get 2 small children to climb down from 3 stories high? It would be unsafe as we couldn’t hold them and climb down.

Of course this is worst case scenario, and I would hope that if there was a fire we could just exit through the front door. My imagination just goes a little wild as you fear done awful stories.

I’ve seen all sorts of contraptions for lowering children down (mostly on US websites), but unsure of which would be best.

Has anyone else had this fear and if so, was there anything you invested in to help get small children down from a height?

We live in a three storey house. I am buggered if I am climbing out Velux windows onto a pitched roof 30 feet in the air.

Most three storey houses will have fire safety elements like fire doors and smoke detectors which make climbing out of a 2nd floor window an absolute last resort. And if you do, you stay there on the roof until the fire brigade arrive with their ladders, you do not attempt to climb to teh ground.

Although I really think you are overthinking this hugely.

When you say lock downstairs doors at night what do you mean? The way out, or the door to the kitchen?

We have 3 storeys, kids sleep on top floor, us on middle floor. I haven’t thought a lot about fire tbh. We have a mains smoke alarm system and a fire blanket but that’s it. The front door is easily opened from inside if necessary.

Oh yeah we have fire doors throughout too.

DCs’ windows have locks on which prevent them climbing out anyway. Don’t yours? I’d be more worried about that risk than fire tbh.

You’re thinking of a chute?

Honestly, I've never thought about it. We have a fire alarm and that's it really.

where there was a fire blocking stairwell and we had to use the escape ladder, how would we get 2 small children to climb down from 3 stories high?

In this very very very unlikely scenario, you would take the children into the room furthest from the fire, block the bottom of the door with coats/duvets/towels and wait for help. That is safer than immediately going for climbing out a very high window.

If you are UK based, I suggest asking your local Fire Brigade for a safety visit. They will advise on your best options, given the layout of your house far better than anyone here can. Free. And they turn up in their fire engine which wee kids love.

I agree- ask the local fire brigade to visit and advise.

I can't have children, but have a puppy. If this situation occurred, and depending on your childrens ages, I'd put baby/puppy inside a backpack to scale down a ladder.

I'd also speak to GP about your anxiety. CBT might help put things in perspective and help you cope with your thoughts. x

Learn how to give your kids a fireman's lift down the ladder maybe?
Over your shoulder held with one hand so you have the other to hold onto the ladder.

I get that I’m over thinking it. It’s an anxiety thing- I just like to be prepared for every eventuality.

@minipie Yes doors to kitchen and living room. Front door of course is locked 😉

Yes kids windows have restricted opening so they can’t open, unless you push button and they open wide. I’m not concerned about them doing this as they are are so little and the windows open half way up so they can’t reach.

@FamilyTreeBuilder Yes I will contact them- I’ve had them over for a building I look after and they were helpful.

I think with me it’s anxiety which is accentuated by worrying about what to do with small children if we were trapped. I know about blocking bottom of the furthest room in the event we couldn’t get out of the house. I guess my head just goes to ‘what if fire brigade didn’t get there in time’

Extremely unlikely as you say, I just want peace of mind.

@MarmiteCoriander I’d thought that too about putting the baby in baby carrier but now they are 3 and 5 so couldn’t do that. If my husband was away, I worry how I’d get them both out if we were really trapped.

You’re right about the anxiety, that’s what it is. I still like to be prepared anyway, it helps me have peace of mind even though (please god) we would never be in that situation.

Anyway, I just wanted to see if anyone had a similar thought and any ideas, but it seems I’m possibly the only one! I have a fire escape plan and know a bit about fire safety as I’ve done courses, I just like to have a ‘worst case scenario’ plan too.

It would be good to get the fire service over to discuss matters
I was told that a fire ladder was a bad idea and that they would attend in time before we would need to use it!

We've got three floors and a fire escape ladder for the top floor, but it's never been used in 32 years, thankfully. The electrics are totally up to date and we're very careful. We didn't allow the children to sleep on the top floor until they were old enough to be safe with and to open the window.

I did a fire marshal course for work recently and will try to pass on some advice from the chap who led it. Ex- fire fighter very interesting with lots of stories to tell about his experience. Anyway - fires need 3 things - heat, ignition and fuel.
he suggested to identify the possibilities of where these are and try to eliminate them.
e.g ensure electrics are switched off at plug before bed, run the tumble dryer while you are awake/around not at night.
keep lounge and kitchen doors shut as these are more likely places and a shut door will give you more time to get it as restricts spread..
we were also advised to keep bedroom doors shut ( but with having a little one I keep mine open so he can wander in/hear him)
The other thing he said was about why you hear it was the child/wife that died in the fire and the man got out, was because the alarm goes off- guy goes down to investigate- opens door, smoke and flames rush out as oxygen goes in. So if you hear an alarm, be prepared to enact your escape plan before checking closed rooms.

In addition to what I've mentioned above, I assume you have wired in fire alarms, a fire extinguisher and fire blanket near the kitchen- and know how to use both and known your own limitations on using them? (don't tackle anything larger than a small, waste bin size etc?)

@Digimoor Yeah I get that, and usually that is the case, it’s just these very rare awful stories you hear that get to me! It’s just a reassurance thing really, it’s there just incase but hopefully will never have to use!

@AlwaysLatte Yes we’re the same- electrics up to date and will hopefully never have to use the ladder. There’s just the velux windows in the spare room on top floor that kids can’t reach and are locked, and then a high up window in my daughter’s room that opens about 3 inches with the child lock on.

@MarmiteCoriander Yes we have all those things and I’ve done a fire course so understand limitations using these things. Fire fighter said he’d rather people just got out than tried to tackle a fire. Again it’s just there ‘just incase’ really. My priority would be just to get everyone out of the front door.

@TinyTornado Thats really interesting and I’ve not heard that before- thank you, great advice.