Residents interested in the safety of their detached houses in Western Uusimaa

Last summer, the Western Uusimaa Rescue Department sent a fire safety self-assessment form to some of the residents of detached houses in its area. This year, the letter was sent to approximately 5,200 households.

Last summer, the Western Uusimaa Rescue Department sent a fire safety guide and a self-assessment form for reviewing the fire safety of the home to some of the residents of detached houses in its area.

This year, the letter was sent to approximately 5,200 households. The residents will check whether the fire safety issues listed on the form are in order in their home and then submit the response to the Rescue Department. 

Through this self-assessment process, the Rescue Department is looking to encourage residents to take action to improve the safety of their homes.

“Approximately 67% of residents who received the letter have returned the form. We would like to thank those who have already submitted their response for their initiative", says Chief Fire Inspector Raki Salmela.

A reminder letter will soon be sent to those who are yet to respond. Approximately 1,700 reminders will be sent. Residents have the opportunity to respond to the reminder letter until 15.11.2021.

We ask that all those who have received the letter return the form by the deadline. If a resident fails to return the form despite having been sent the reminder, the Rescue Department will carry out a fire inspection in their home at the end of the year or at the beginning of 2022 the latest.

According to Salmela, the response rate has been good in recent years: more than 90% of the forms have been returned to the Rescue Department.

Clearly displayed house numbers help emergency services find their way

Chief Fire Inspector Raki Salmela has reviewed all of the responses returned so far.

“The self-assessment forms have allowed the respondents to pay attention to, for example, the visibility of their house numbers and the escape routes and smoke alarms in their home,” Salmela says. 

Many residents have come to realise that their house numbers may not be clearly visible.

“Clearly displayed house numbers make it easier for emergency services to find their way. The house numbers do not necessarily have to be illuminated. For us, it is enough that the numbers are easily detectible even in the dark. For example, the numbers can be placed on a reflective background or within the radius of street lighting.”

However, the city building ordinance may require house numbers to be illuminated. It is therefore a good idea to check this from the building control department of your city.

You should also check that branches or bushes do not block the visibility of your house number. 

Home escape routes in order

Residents of detached houses with two or more floors reported deficiencies in the escape routes of their homes. All homes must include at least two escape routes. One is a normal access route, the other an alternative escape route, such as a balcony or window.

“These things must be carefully considered in advance. In the event of a fire breaking out, you only have minutes to escape. It is important that the escape routes are unobstructed and that they can be accessed without a key,” Salmela says.

If the escape route runs through a window, the window must have a fixed handle in place. Upper floor windows should be equipped with escape ladders if the distance to the ground is extensive. 

“It is a good idea to practice your escape routes in the dark and also teach them to your children.”

A smoke alarm in the bedroom will surely wake you up

A functioning smoke alarm will detect smoke and give an alarm before we can sense or detect anything at all. Even the smallest start of fire can fill the home with smoke very quickly.  A functioning and correctly positioned smoke alarm will alert you and also wake you up.

All homes must be equipped with at least one smoke alarm for every 60 m2 of each floor of the residence.

“It is vitally important that smoke alarms are installed in every bedroom and along the escape routes,” says Chief Fire Inspector Salmela. 

You should test the smoke alarms in your home once a month. This way you can ensure that they are functional. Batteries should be changed once a year or immediately if the smoke alarm repeatedly gives a quiet beep.

Smoke alarms do not last forever and they must be replaced with new ones at regular intervals. Nowadays, manufacturers mark the recommended time for replacing the alarm on its label as a ‘best before’ date.  Always replace the smoke alarm immediately if you have changed the battery and it still does not work.

The aim is to prevent accidents 

Sending out self-assessment forms is a part of the fire safety control carried out by the Rescue Department. The aim is to prevent accidents. The areas to which the self-assessment forms are sent are determined according to an annual plan by the Rescue Department.

In addition to the self-assessment, the Rescue Department continues to carry out traditional fire inspections. The aim is to direct fire inspections to locations that have a particular need for a visit by fire safety experts. Rescue Department units also circulate residential areas to make safety observations. Any deficiencies observed lead to a written demand for repair and, when necessary, fire inspections will be carried out in housing companies. Every year, the Western Uusimaa Rescue Department carries out approximately 2,000 fire inspections in various premises and properties.

The Kotitapaturma.fi website includes a home safety checklist (in Finnish), which helps you review the safety matters of your home even if you did not receive a self-assessment letter this year. You can contact the on-call fire inspector on weekdays from 9:00 to 11:30 if you have any questions related to your home’s fire safety or the self-assessment, tel. 09 8162 6815.