At Wolverhampton Homes we are committed to doing everything we can to help protect you, your family, and your home from the risk of fire.
To find out more about what we can all do to stay fire safe, we got together with our Building Safety Manager, Nick Lacey, to find out more about the work he and his team do.
Let’s start with an introduction, can you tell us about your role and what you do?
I joined Wolverhampton Homes in 2022 after 24 years with West Midlands Fire Service. For the last five years I was a fire safety inspecting officer, so fire safety is more than my profession, it’s something I’m extremely passionate about.
As Building Safety Manager I lead the fire safety team and I’m responsible for the Building Safety cases. This is ensuring that the fire safety and structural safety recommendations that were introduced by the government following the Grenfell Tower tragedy are implemented and followed, making sure all the homes we manage are as safe as possible.
Why is staying fire safe in the home so important right now?
During the last three months of 2021 in England alone, there was a 41% rise in fire-related deaths, and while staying fire safe in the home should never go away, it is human nature that we become complacent.
One worry is that with the rising cost of living, people are taking unnecessary risks when it comes to heating and lighting their homes. It’s up to teams like mine to keep fire safety at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
We don’t mean to be patronising about how to cook or heat your homes as of course we know most people generally do this safely. But there are hidden dangers that you may not be aware of, and people are always surprised at how fast a fire spreads.
What do you and your team do to keep every customer fire safe?
We are extremely fortunate at Wolverhampton Homes as every member of the fire safety team are all former fire safety inspecting officers who have served at least seven years in the fire service.
This gives the team the skills and knowledge to undertake fire risk assessments whatever the property type, in fact they have achieved third party accreditation. Alongside this, the team provide support and guidance to other staff members such as tenancy officers in fulfilling their roles, and provide fire safety advice to residents.
What top three tips would you give people to help them stay fire safe at home?
My top three tips would be:
- Test your smoke alarms on a weekly basis. I use ‘test it Tuesday’ so it springs to mind easily every week. Look after them and they will look after you.
- Take 15 minutes to consider an escape plan. You will probably need to do this from different parts of your home. Make sure you share it with everyone who lives with you.
- Have a night-time routine. Make sure electrical items are turned off where they can be and ensure your escape is clear: don’t leave items on the stairs to trip over, or bikes or scooters in hallways causing an obstruction.
If any customer thinks they may need help to leave their home in an emergency, or wants further advice on fire safety they should contact us straight away and we can arrange a visit from one of our fire safety officers. They will work with you to create a plan to suit your individual needs.
Find out more about fire safety and how to keep your home and family safe on our website:
Keeping your home and family safe