THE dangers of a smoke-filled home along with cluttered hallways during a fire were on full display at an awareness day in Wotton last week.

Stroud District Council and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service combined to stage the event in Dryleaze Court, Wotton, last Thursday (July 20).

The day was organised after a series of incidents in which council officers found fire doors propped open with stools at SDC-owned residences, along with, plants, bikes and shoe racks in the hallway – all of which qualify as risks during a fire.

SDC has a zero-tolerance policy on tripping hazards in corridors which could hinder a speedy escape from potential fires – this was clearly demonstrated at the event.

GFRS watch manager Nigel Brown, below, said that the average time to escape via the route - which would normally take 10 seconds - was 2.5 minutes after his team had filled the room with smoke, with some taking over three minutes.

Gazette Series:

“In a real fire your heart beat would be much faster and you would be panicking trying to get out, eating up more of your oxygen supply,” said Nigel.

“The carbon monoxide would make you feel nauseous and the loud noise from the fire alarms would make the situation much more tense, with more strain on your senses, fear may set in.

“When you begin to make panicked decisions it is critical that there aren’t any tripping hazards which make your escape take longer or make it more difficult for firefighters to get to you.

“Many of the people taking part today are residents here and know the way out, it should take 10 seconds to complete this drill, and it is stretching to three minutes, imagine if they did not know which way to go?”

He made it clear that while this is a short amount of time, the distance itself is also very short and within that time limit – and without breathing apparatus – they would not have made it out.

The toxic fumes released in a fire, and more importantly the carbon monoxide, would cut off someone’s oxygen supply quickly.

One of the people who took part was Ed White, a mechanical and electrical officer at SDC, he said: “It gives you a respect for the fire service and all the pressures which they are under.

“You don’t realise how dangerous basic things in your home can be, I’m more aware of the dangers of leaving tripping hazards in houses.”

Four people at a time were kitted out with breathing masks, oxygen tanks and protective clothing and walked into a room down a hallway within Dryleaze Court.

The room and hallway were then filled with non-toxic smoke and one person at a time they were instructed to find their way out of the hallway again, navigating the potential tripping hazards and through smoke which created zero-visibility.

Gazette Series:

Sally Waldron, above, GFRS head of prevention and protection, said that the key points there keen to stress were not to clutter escape routes and that fire doors are there for a reason.

“We need to show people why it so important to keep fire doors closed and not to place tripping hazard in hallways, we’ve made it a priority and similar events such as this could be rolled out across the county, the Stroud area is just the first,” she said.

Some of the participants stated that they felt “alone and claustrophobic” when the smoke filled the area, and said that in a panicked state of mind they would be more frantic and confused, they felt alarmed at how long it could take to leave such a small area.

SDC tenant representative Ian Allan also took part in the event, he says without breathing apparatus he would not have made it out.

“It’s tough in a situation like this, with breathing apparatus on I could make it out, but I think if I didn’t have that I wouldn’t stand a chance.

“I have experience as a diver so I wasn’t panicked by the face-mask.

“Many people really do not appreciate how difficult it is to escape when there is clutter in the corridor, you might think that a potted plant won’t make a difference but it can be very dangerous.”

Stroud district councillors Mattie Ross and Ken Tucker also took part in the exercise.

“It was a real eye opener – I struggled to find my way out of the room when it was filled with smoke, and that was without the heat and panic of a real situation,” said Mattie.

“It really brought it home to everyone there how important it is to take experts’ advice when it comes to fire safety.”

Gazette Series:

Above - SDC housing staff Alan Coates and Lynne Mansell who organised the fire safety training day, with members of the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service.

Cllr Tucker said: “I know my way round here and I still had trouble getting out, you feel very alone and I would love to think I would get out, but I wouldn’t without all the equipment.

“You do have to think how the people involved in Grenfell felt, we struggled to get down a short hallway, never mind in a high-rise block of flats.”