Keeping you safe

Why is fire safety important?

There were 173,872 fires attended by FRSs in England in the year ending June 2023 with 284 fire related fatalities recorded.

The most common cause of death for fire-related fatalities was ‘smoke inhalation’.

Cooking appliances were responsible for 44% of accidental dwelling fires,

What Mansfield District Council does to keep you safe

As your landlord we are responsible for carrying out regular fire safety checks in the communal areas of buildings.

We will remove any items that are left in communal areas as they block exit routes in the event of an emergency evacuation

We install and maintain smoke alarms in all dwellings and to common areas of buildings.

Fire doors.

Fire doors are specifically made to reduce the spread of fire and toxic smoke within a building. They are just one of the ways we prevent the spread of fire in blocks of flats and maisonettes.

A ‘fire door’ is made up of the door, its frame and all the fittings like locks, handles, closers and hinges but also include the manner in which the frame is fixed and sealed to the building fabric. All of these things are designed to resist the fire for at least 30 minutes. Fire doors are important to protect residents from the spread of fire and smoke. Fire doors are fitted in strategic points throughout your building and to flat entrances, to ensure that residents have the best level of protection in the event of a fire.

If the door has been damaged or altered in any way, it may not be able to stop fire and smoke from spreading and could put lives at risks.

Top tips:

•          Never prop a fire door open
•          Never tamper with fire the door closer
•          Never alter fire doors e.g. changing handles or adding a letter box or at pet flap

This will compromise the fire resistance of the fire door and could lead to fire spreading

If you have any concerns about fire safety in your home or block or want to report damage to your fire door, you can contact us on 01623 463463 or email us at firesafety@mansfield.gov.uk

Fire Safety tips.

Small fires are very common and can cause serious injuries and extensive damage to property and possessions. By following a few simple rules and maintaining a basic level of awareness, you can reduce the chances of fire in your home.

Please see below 10 top tips for keeping your home fire safe:

• Ensure we have fitted smoke alarms on each floor level, you must keep them dust free and test them once a week - you are around nine times more likely to die in a fire if you do not have a working smoke alarm in your home
• Make a fire action plan so that everyone in your home knows how to escape in the event of a fire. Make sure that everyone can find keys for doors and windows easily.
• Keep exits clear of obstructions so that people can make their escape.
• Take care in the kitchen - accidents while cooking account for 59% of fires in the home.
• Take extra care with hot cooking oil – consider buying an electric thermostatically controlled deep fat fryer if you don’t use one already.
• Never leave lit candles unattended and ensure they are in a secure, non-flammable holder.
• Dispose of cigarette ends carefully and never smoke in bed.
• Don’t overload electrical sockets, especially when using multi-socket extensions.
• Don’t leave the TV or other electrical appliances on standby.
• Keep matches and lighters away from children.

Storing and charging electric bikes and scooters

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storing your electric bike/scooter.
• Fit smoke or heat detection in the room or garage where you charge or store your electric bike/scooter
• Store electric bikes/scooters and their batteries in a cool place. Avoid excessively hot or cold places.
• Follow manufacturer’s instructions for the storage and maintenance of lithium -ion batteries if they are not going to be used for extended periods of time.
• Always use the manufacturer approved charger for the product.
• Don’t overcharge and always unplug your charger when it’s finished charging.
• Don’t leave batteries to charge while you are asleep or away from the home.
• Don’t cover chargers or battery packs when charging. This could lead to overheating or fire.
• Don’t charge batteries or store your electric bike/scooter near combustible or flammable materials. In the event of an electric bike/scooter or lithium-ion battery fire – do not attempt to extinguish the fire. Get out, stay out, call 999.
• Don’t store or charge e-bikes/scooters on escape routes or in communal areas where they could impede escape