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Fire safety

Wakefield and District Housing is working with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to set up a fire safety partnership.

The partnership will promote awareness of fire safety, encouraging residents to actively protect themselves, their home and possessions against fire.

As part of this partnership, you can call 0800 587 4536 for fire safety information, and receive a free fire safety check of your home.

What to do in case of fire

If the alarm sounds or a fire has broken out:

• Do not try to put out the fire unless you can do it safely.
• Get everyone out of the house as quickly as possible and call the fire service (999).
• Have an escape route planned (if in doubt, call your local fire prevention officer and ask for advice).
• Make sure your children know what to do if a fire breaks out.
• Know where your house keys are.
• Do not go back into the house for any reason.

If you live in a multi-storey flat, see our Fire safety in high rise flats guidance.

Fire safety tips

Here are the top 12 fire safety tips, as recommended by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service:

1. Fit smoke alarms on each level of your home. Keep them clean and test them once a week.
2. Agree a fire action plan so everyone in your home knows how to escape if there is a fire.
3. Keep all exits clear – and make sure everyone knows where to find keys for doors and windows quickly.
4. Take extra care in the kitchen. Never leave young children alone there.
5. Be careful when cooking with hot oil or buy a deep-fat fryer with a thermostat.
6. Never leave lit candles in rooms that nobody is in, or where children are by themselves.
7. Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly and disposed of carefully. Never smoke in bed.
8. Close doors at night – especially doors to the lounge and kitchen.
9. Don’t overload electrical sockets. Remember, one plug for one socket
10. Keep matches and lighters where children can’t see them or reach them.
11. Don’t leave the TV or other electrical appliances on standby – always switch them off, and unplug them if you are not using them.
12. Take special care when you are tired or when you’ve been drinking.

For more details, call 0800 587 4536, contact your local fire station or visit the national Fire and Rescue Services website.

further information Smoke detectors... If a fire starts in your home, a smoke detector will give you vital extra seconds to escape. Fire safety in high rise apartments guidance (pdf)... If you live in a high rise apartment, there are some things you should know about how to prevent fires and what to do if fire breaks out. Affordable home insurance... We now offer low-cost contents insurance – find out about it here.