Is "stay put" advice still valid for my high-rise building?

The National Fire Chiefs Council's position on the stay put policy remains the same.

If your property is affected by fire and your escape route is clear, get out, stay out, and telephone 999.

If there is a fire inside your property but your escape route is not clear, it may still be safer to stay in your flat or maisonette until the fire brigade arrives. Find a safe room, close the door and use soft materials to block any gaps to stop the smoke entering. Go to a window and raise the alarm and also telephone 999, ensuring you describe where you are and the quickest way to reach you.

If there is a fire elsewhere in your building, you are usually safer staying in your flat, telephoning 999 and telling the fire service where you are.

Flats and maisonettes are built to give you some protection from fire and it is often safer to stay inside your property to avoid having too many people exiting the building at once while firefighters are trying to enter.

West Midlands Fire Service works with Birmingham City Council, building developers and management committees to help to ensure that the procedures in the event of an emergency are safe.

Page last updated: 11 December 2023