North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is providing advice and reassurance to people who may be concerned about the safety of high-rise buildings following today’s fire at Grenfell Tower in London.

Senior Fire Safety Manager Stuart Millington said: "Our thoughts are very much with everyone who has been affected by this awful tragedy.

"It would be wrong to speculate at this time about the cause of this fire until a full investigation has been carried out by the appropriate authorities.

"However, what we do know is that fires of this type are rare. High-rise buildings are designed to resist fire, stop the spread of smoke and provide a safe means of escape. Most fires don’t spread further than one or two rooms.

“Our fire safety officers work closely with building control bodies, building owners and local authority partners to ensure buildings meet the requirements of the appropriate building regulations and we help those responsible to comply with their legal obligations.

“We also make sure that we have up to date plans and information available to use for particular types of buildings such as high-rise premises should we need to respond to an incident – and our officers have been meeting with partners today in relation to key sites with high rise premises in our region.

"But it is, of course, vital that people remember exactly what to do in the event of a fire so that they can protect themselves and their families. And this is true in any type of property or building but particularly important for the more vulnerable members of our communities, such as the over-60s, under-fives and people with mobility issues.

"We do not have many high rise buildings in our region but I would like to provide reassurance that North Wales Fire and Rescue Service carries out regular inspections of those high-rise buildings we do have in our service area and that our crews regularly carry out training at them.

"Any lessons learned from the investigation into the London fire will be incorporated into planning arrangements for dealing with incidents at high-rise properties."

Please follow our general advice for staying safe from fire in the home which can be found here.

Further specific advice for people living in high-rise accommodation includes:

• If there’s a fire in another flat in the building, you’re usually safest in your own flat, unless you’re affected by the heat or smoke. If you are unsure – leave the flat.
• If there is heat or smoke in the corridor leave by the stairs. DO NOT USE THE LIFT.
• In the event of a fire, never assume that someone else has called 999. Make sure your neighbours know about the fire. Bang on their doors on your way out.
• Never tamper with internal fire mains (dry riser) inlets on landings – firefighters use them to put the fire out. It could cost lives if they’re not working properly.
• If you see a dry riser vandalised or damaged, report it immediately to the manager of the building.
• Never use or store bottled gas cylinders.

If you would like a free home safety check, and free smoke alarms where they are needed, call North Wales Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 169 1234 or e-mail cfs@nwales-fireservice.org.uk.