Fire safety

Fire doors help stop fire and smoke from spreading through a building.

Please:

• Do not damage or change your front door
• Make sure your door closes properly
• Allow access when we need to inspect fire doors.

We carry out regular inspections to make sure fire doors are working properly

Smoke and heat alarms give you an early warning if there is a fire in your home.

Test your alarms regularly
We recommend testing your smoke alarms once a month by pressing the test button.

Looking after your alarms 

• Test them regularly
• Remove dust using a vacuum cleaner or soft cloth
• Replace batteries when required
• Never remove batteries unless replacing them immediately
• Never cover, paint over or tamper with an alarm 
• Do not ignore low-battery warning beep.

If your alarm is not working

Please contact us if:

• Your alarm is faulty
• You think an alarm is missing
• You are not sure if your home has enough alarms.

To contact us: 

• Email: customer.services@gatewayhousing.org.uk
• Phone: 0208 709 4300
• Letter or in person: Gateway Housing Association, 409-413 Mile End Road, London, E3 4PB 
• MyHome Portal

Extra support 
Some residents may need specialist alarms or alert systems. If you think you or someone in your household may need additional support, please let us know. 

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that cannot be seen, smelt or tasted. 

Common sources 
Carbon monoxide can be produced by: 

• Gas boilers and water heaters  
• Gas cookers and ovens  
• Wood-burning stoves  
• Open fires  
• Portable heaters  

Know the symptoms 
Symptoms can include:

• Headaches  
• Dizziness  
• Nausea  
• Fatigue  
• Confusion

Keeping your house safe
You can reduce the risk by: 

• Having appliances serviced regularly
• Keeping vents clear
• Never using BBQs or generators indoors 
• Testing carbon monoxide alarms regularly

If your alarm sounds 

• Open doors and windows
• Turn off appliances if safe to do so  
• Leave the property
• Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999

If you are missing a carbon monoxide detector in your home please contact us:

• Email: customer.services@gatewayhousing.org.uk
• Phone: 0208 709 4300
• Letter or in person: Gateway Housing Association, 409-413 Mile End Road, London, E3 4PB 
• MyHome Portal

Some residents may need extra help in an emergency. 

What is a PCFRA? 
A Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment looks at how a person's circumstances could affect their safety during a fire. 

Who may benefit? 
This may include residents who:

• Have mobility difficulties
• Have hearing or sight impairments
• Live with dementia or memory-related conditions
• Receive support from carers

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) 
Where appropriate, a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan may be developed to help residents remain safe during an emergency.

How we can help 
If you think you may need extra support, please contact us:

• Email: customer.services@gatewayhousing.org.uk
• Phone: 0208 709 4300
• Letter or in person: Gateway Housing Association, 409-413 Mile End Road, London, E3 4PB 
• MyHome Portal

Lots of house fires start in the kitchen.

To stay safe:

• Never leave cooking unattended
• Turn off the hob if you leave the room
• Keep tea towels and other items away from heat
• Take extra care when cooking with hot oil

If a pan catches fire, do not use water. Leave the room, close the door and call 999 if needed.

Faulty electrical items can cause fires.

To stay safe:

• Buy electric items from reputable retailers and follow manufacturer's instructions  
• Use the correct charger for your device
• Do not overload plug sockets
• Avoid using multiple extensions together
• Replace damaged cables and plugs
• Look for signs of damage (e.g. frayed cables, burn marks, cracked plugs)
• Don't charge devices on beds or sofas

For information on rechargeable batteries, see our Lithium Battery Safety guidance. 

If you use a BBQ:

• Always use it outdoors
• Do not use a BBQ on a balcony
• Keep it away from buildings, fences, sheds and garden furniture
• Never use petrol or other flammable liquids to start a fire
• Keep children and pets away
• Make sure the BBQ is fully cool before you move or dispose of it.

Smoke safely 

• Smoke outdoors where possible
• Never smoke in bed
• Avoid smoking on sofas or armchairs
• Never leave a lit cigarette unattended

Use ashtrays properly 

• Use a sturdy ashtray that cannot easily tip over
• Make sure cigarettes are fully extinguished
• Empty ashtrays carefully and only when contents are cold 

Thinking about quitting? 
Stopping smoking can improve your health and significantly reduce your risk of a fire in your home. Support is available through NHS stop smoking services.

Using candles safely 

• Never leave a lit candle unattended 
• Blow out candles before leaving a room or going to bed
• Use a suitable heat-resistant holder
• Place candles on a stable surface
• Keep candles away from curtains and furniture

Tea lights and scented candles 
Tea lights can become extremely hot. 

• Always use them in an appropriate holder
• Never place them directly onto furniture or plastic surfaces.

Before leaving the room 
Check that all candles, incense sticks and oil burners have been put out before leaving the room or going to bed. Battery-operated LED candles can be a safer option.

Taking a few minutes before bed can help prevent fires. Check that:

• Doors inside your home are closed
• The cooker, hob and oven are switched off
• Candles have been put out
• Cigarettes are fully put out
• Turn off and unplug electrical appliances that don't need to be plugged in
• Hallways and escape routes are clear.

Lithium batteries are used in:

• Mobile phones
• Tablets
• Laptops
• E-bikes
• E-scooters

To use them safely:

• Use the correct charger
• Charge batteries on a hard, flat surface
• Do not charge batteries while you are out or asleep
• Do not charge batteries near exits or hallways
• Never store or charge e-bikes or e-scooters in communal areas
• Do not put lithium batteries in household waste bins

Look out for warning signs 
Stop using the battery immediately if you notice: 

• Overheating
• Swelling or bulging
• Leaking fluids
• Strange smells
• Smoke or discolouration

If it is safe to do so, move away from the device and seek specialist advice. 

E-bikes and e-scooters 
Take extra care when charging e-bikes and e-scooters. 

• Use the correct charger
• Never modify batteries
• Do not store or charge them in communal areas, hallways or escape routes.

Fire Action Notices are displayed in our buildings and explain what to do in an emergency. Please read the notice in your building and think about how you would leave safely if there was a fire.