A tragic apartment fire, which claimed lives, occurred last weekend in Hakunila, Helsinki. There were no smoke detectors in use in the apartment.
What can you do as a resident of our building to be as safe as possible from fire?
1. Ensure that your home’s smoke detectors are in working order. The responsibility for smoke detectors and their functionality lies either with you or the housing company, depending on the detector model.
- If your apartment has smoke detectors connected to the electrical network, they are legally the responsibility of the housing company.
- However, the functionality of battery-operated smoke detectors and the replacement of their batteries are always the resident’s responsibility.
- Remember, under no circumstances should a smoke detector be turned off, even if it seems to alarm disturbingly, for example, due to cooking fumes.
2. Do not leave candles or lanterns unattended in living areas or on the balcony. Preparing hot food on the balcony is prohibited.
3. Avoid leaving batteries to charge unattended in the apartment. Also, do not use damaged electrical devices.
More information about your building’s fire safety and procedures in case of a fire can be found in the building folder.
