High-Rise Fire — When to Stay Put and How to Defend in Place

The standard advice for most fire situations is to evacuate immediately. In high-rise buildings, this is sometimes the wrong response. The "stay put" or "defend in place" policy is a deliberate fire safety strategy — based on how correctly compartmented high-rise buildings are designed — that saves lives in specific circumstances. It has also, when misapplied in buildings with inadequate or damaged compartmentation, cost lives.

Understanding when "stay put" is the right choice and when it is not is essential knowledge for any high-rise resident.

What "Stay Put" Means and Why It Exists

In a high-rise building designed with fire compartmentation:

• Each flat is separated from adjacent flats, the corridor, and the stairwell by fire-rated construction (walls, floors, doors) capable of resisting fire for 30–60 minutes or more
• A fire in one flat should be contained to that flat before the fire brigade arrives
• The greatest danger to occupants of adjacent flats is not the fire itself, but smoke in the escape routes if everyone evacuates simultaneously

In this scenario, residents who are not in the fire flat are safer staying inside their compartmented flat than evacuating into potentially smoke-filled corridors and stairwells.

The fire brigade's "stay put" policy is based on this compartmentation design. It applies when the compartmentation is functioning as intended.

⚠️ "Stay put" does not mean stay put no matter what. It means stay put while the fire is contained in another part of the building. If fire or smoke is entering your flat, or is in the corridor immediately outside your door, your flat's compartmentation has failed. In this case, evacuation — if a route is available — or fire brigade rescue is required.

When "Stay Put" Applies

Situation	Stay Put?
Fire is in another flat and you cannot smell smoke	Yes — remain in your flat
Corridor alarm is sounding but no smoke visible	Yes — remain unless advised otherwise
Fire is in a common area but not in your flat	Yes, until advised
Building warden or fire brigade advises stay put	Yes
Building has known combustible cladding concerns	Check with building management — policy may differ

When "Stay Put" No Longer Applies

Situation	Action
Smoke entering your flat under the door	Seal the gap and prepare to evacuate if route is clear, or call 999 for rescue
Fire entering your flat	Evacuate immediately if a clear route exists; if not, call 999
Fire brigade announces building-wide evacuation	Evacuate using stairwell
Building's fire system activates total evacuation mode	Evacuate using stairwell
Conditions in your flat become life-threatening	Evacuate or signal for rescue

How to Defend in Place

If you are staying in your flat while a fire is elsewhere in the building:

Immediate Actions

1. Call 999 — report the fire and your location even if the building alarm is sounding. Fire services need to know which flat is affected.
2. Close all internal doors in your flat — limits smoke and fire spread if it reaches your flat.
3. Go to the room furthest from the main entrance door — this is typically a bedroom facing away from the corridor.
4. Close the door of that room behind you.

Sealing Against Smoke

If smoke begins to enter from the corridor or adjacent flat:

Action	Material	Purpose
Seal the gap under the front door	Towels, bedding, tape	Prevents smoke entering from corridor
Seal gaps around door frame	Clothing, strips of tape	Reduces smoke infiltration
Seal letterbox	Tape, folded cloth	Prevents smoke entry through letterbox
Open a window (away from fire side)	—	Fresh air in; reduces CO₂ buildup; signalling

Do not open a window on the side of the building where the fire is — this creates a draught that draws smoke toward you.

Signalling for Rescue

While defended in place:

1. Call 999 and give your exact location — floor number, flat number
2. Wave a bright cloth from the window — makes your location visible to fire crews below
3. Shout from the window when fire crews are visible below
4. Keep the line open with 999 — a dispatcher can relay your position to crews in the building

Managing Time

Time	Typical Fire Brigade Response / Situation
0–5 minutes	Brigade en route; compartmented flat gives you time
5–15 minutes	Brigade on scene; floor-by-floor assessment
15–30 minutes	Active firefighting; rescue operations if needed
> 30 minutes	Complex rescue scenarios; remain calm and signal

A correctly sealed flat in a compartmented building can give you 30–60 minutes or more of survivable conditions. This is enough time for fire brigade intervention in most scenarios.

If You Must Exit Through Smoke

If conditions become untenable and you must exit through a smoky corridor:

1. Crawl — stay below the smoke layer; air is clearest at floor level
2. Keep one hand on the wall — navigate by touch if visibility is zero
3. Keep a wet cloth over your nose and mouth — reduces (but does not eliminate) smoke inhalation
4. Close doors behind you as you move through them
5. Do not use the lift
6. If you encounter fire in the corridor — go back to your flat; your only option is rescue from your window

Communicating Your Location to Fire Services

When 999 is called:

• Building name and full address
• Floor number
• Flat number (and position in the building — e.g., "facing the street, left side")
• Number of people in the flat
• Whether anyone is injured or has mobility difficulties

This information allows fire crews to prioritise your floor and locate your flat directly.

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Quick Reference

Situation	Action
Fire in another flat, no smoke	Stay put; call 999 to report
Alarm sounds, no smoke visible	Stay put; monitor situation
Smoke under front door	Seal gap; stay in furthest room; call 999
Fire entering your flat	Evacuate if route clear; signal from window if not
In defended flat	Close doors; seal door gaps; signal from window
Brigade announces evacuation	Evacuate via stairwell; never lift
Conditions unliveable, no route	Call 999; signal from window; await rescue