Know your risks

What is the risk? A major fire, especially in a large building like a block of flats, care home, or hospital, can be very dangerous . Fires can also cause road closures and affect the local area for a long time .

What you can do to prevent a fire:

• Fit smoke alarms: Have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home.
• Test your alarms: Test your smoke alarms every week. This is the most important thing you can do to keep your family safe.
• Plan your escape: Make a simple fire escape plan with everyone in your home. Keep your escape routes clear and make sure everyone knows where the door and window keys are.
• Shut doors at night: Closing internal doors at night can slow the spread of a fire by up to 20 minutes.
• Check plugs: Don't overload plug sockets or "daisy-chain" extension leads.

What to do if there is a fire:

Follow the official advice from Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service: "Get out. Stay out. Call 999."

• Get out: Do not stop to pick up belongings.
• Stay out: Never go back into a burning building.
• Call 999: Call the fire service from a safe place.

If you live in a high-rise flat or apartment building: Make sure you know your building's specific fire plan. This will either be to "Stay Put" (if your flat is not affected) or to "Evacuate". Your building manager or landlord must provide you with this information.