Magenta Living takes your safety extremely seriously. We have a legal obligation to ensure the high-rise buildings we own, including the shared spaces meet with all relevant building and fire regulations.
We have a dedicated Compliance Fire Safety Team who plays a critical role in ensuring that fire safety precautions in all homes including those that have a shared area, our community properties and other buildings meet the relevant requirements.
Being prepared could make all the difference in the event of a fire in your home.
Most of our buildings have a ‘stay put’ policy in place. This includes our high-rise buildings, extra care and sheltered schemes. If there is a fire in another flat in the building, you are usually safest staying in your own home unless you are affected by the heat or smoke. If you are not sure about your building or scheme’s policy, you can find this information displayed in your building’s communal area notice boards or please ask a member of the Magenta team.
If you live in a house, it is a good idea to create your own escape plan with your family. In the event of a fire and if it’s too dangerous to follow your planned escape route because stairs and hallways are full of smoke, ring 999 and stay inside the safest room. Never assume that someone else has called 999 – make the call yourself.
Once outside the building, go to your meeting point. Check that everyone who lives in your home is out of the building and wait to meet the fire service. You will need to direct them to your home and answer their questions to help them.
We work closely with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service www.merseyfire.gov.uk to carry out regular fire safety checks in our high-rise buildings and help keep you safe which include:
Conduct regular fire risk assessments
Inspect and maintain fire doors, emergency lighting, and fire safety equipment including fire alarm systems
Provide and update emergency plans for buildings
Customer Responsibilities
Keep escape routes clear- you must not store items in communal areas. Keep them free from rubbish and personal belongings such as bikes, prams, plants, door mats – these items can cause accidents in an emergency and prevent the fire service from reaching you or your neighbours.
Items left in communal areas could also fuel a fire and cause it to spread
Ensure fire doors are not wedged open and report any damage to fire doors
Avoid altering flat entrance doors or tampering with fire alarms and systems
Do not put items other than rubbish in the bin shoots, especially anything that can cause a fire such as cigarettes for vapes
Most fires in the home can be avoided. Follow the below guidance to keep you, your family and neighbours safe:
Smoke Alarms
Test all smoke alarms once a week – this could save your life!
Do not cover, remove, or tamper with alarms
Report faults to us immediately by calling 0808 100 9596
Cooking
Never leave cooking unattended
Make sure pan handles don’t stick out, so they don’t get knocked off
Avoid cooking when under the influence of alcohol or strong medication that can make you drowsy
Keep flammable items like tea towels and cloths away from cookers
Check everything is switched off when you have finished cooking
Clean ovens and hobs regularly to prevent grease fires
Electrical Safety
Avoid overloading sockets (one plug per socket is ideal)
Switch off appliances when not in use, especially heaters
Never store combustible items near electrical equipment
Portable Heater Safety
Keep heaters away from curtains or furniture and never dry clothes on them
Try to secure heaters up against a wall to stop them falling over
Turn them off fully when going out or going to bed
Keep children and pets away from them
Candles and Smoking
Make sure candles are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that my catch fire, like curtains
Put candles out when you leave the room and are completely out before going to bed or going out
Children should never be left along with lit candles and keep pets away from them – put them out of reach to avoid any accidents
Never smoke in bed and stub out cigarettes fully
Pressurized Cylinders
Due to changes in fire safety legislation, keeping balcony areas safe is now seen as an integral part of our fire safety responsibilities. If a fire breaks out it has the potential to spread to both your home and your neighbours .
When a fire starts outside it can quickly develop and be blown by the wind, directing the flames upwards and outwards and putting other neighbouring balconies and homes at risk.
Never store any combustible items on your balcony. This includes storage boxes, structures of any type, wooden furniture, screening or matting, rubbish or recycling, fuel, gas cylinders or flammable liquids
Never use BBQs or light fires on balconies
If you smoke, always make sure cigarettes or any other smoking materials are completely extinguished using a proper ashtray or a bucket with sand in it
Never drop cigarettes over the side of your balcony
What can be kept on a balcony |
What can’t be kept on a balcony |
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Never tackle fires yourself. Leave it to the professionals and call 999 as soon as you safely can. 999 calls are free
If it’s safe to do so, shut the door to the room where the fire has started
Keep calm and act quickly, get everyone out as soon as possible
Don’t waste time investigating what’s happened or rescuing valuables
If there’s smoke, keep low. The lower you are the clearer the air is
Before you open a door check if it’s warm. If it is, don’t open it – fire is on the other side
Don’t go back in until you have permission
Do you have a plan? Do you know how you and your family will get out in the event of a fire in your home? Do you have more than one exit route?
After a fire, please let us know as soon as it is safe to do so, so we can help and support you
Remember to...
Store matches and lighters safely away from children
Never leave children unsupervised when cooking or if you have lit candles
Dispose of rubbish properly in designated bins
If you require further information, please contact us by calling 0808 100 9596 or emailing the relevant team on firesafety@magentaliving.org.uk
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service
To request a free Home Fire Safety Check visit or for free fire safety advice, contact Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 731 5958.
For additional information, visit