Fire Action - To Stay Put or Evacuate?

Many buildings have a policy that if a fire breaks out in one of the flats residents who are in their flat elsewhere in the building, and are not affected by the fire or smoke, should stay inside their flat unless and until the Fire Service evacuates them.

This has become known as the "Stay-Put" policy. Whilst some may think this counterintuitive, there may be good reasons for such a policy.

Modern flats are designed to be compartmented, akin to a box which contains a fire for a period of time without it spreading to other flats. Provided nothing has been done to compromise this, residents in other flats are usually safer staying inside their own flat. By leaving their flat they may be putting themselves in danger by entering an area affected by fire or thick smoke.

Furthermore, if residents are trying to leave the building they may obstruct and delay the Fire Service trying to get in to put out the fire and save people in the affected flats.

Further still, if the Fire Service considers it necessary, they can manage an evacuation of other parts of the building, determine who to evacuate and when, and with their help, co-ordination and expertise lead people to safety.

However, following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower in 2017, the stay put policy has been understandably questioned.

The Fire Risk Assessment for your building will consider this very carefully before determining whether the building should have a stay-put or evacuation policy.

The Fire Action Plan for your building will have been put in place following the advice of the Fire Risk Assessment. It will be displayed at all entrances to your building and can be seen by logging into the Resident Portal.

Nevertheless, in all cases, if there is a fire in the building and you are affected by heat or smoke or feel in danger, evacuate immediately.

IF IN DOUBT, GET OUT.