The risk of emergencies such as fires escalating into full scale disasters in Doncaster Hill apartment buildings are very real. Councils and Owners Corporations have a legal and moral responsibility to provide systems and procedures to ensure that minor incidents do not escalate into full scale emergencies, if and when they do, occupants can be warned and efficiently evacuated to safety.

High Rise on Fire
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Hotel Fire 
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There have been growing concerns that current laws do not require fire-safety checks at the planning permit stage. Fire-safety elements are considered later during the building permit process, often once construction has begun. Even then, fire checks are usually conducted by building surveyors rather than by fire authorities. The MFB gets involved only when invited to do so by the developer or if it decides on an investigation. Unless you have a vigilant observer or a whistle blower, we would not know about dangers until it was too late. On one occasion  the MFB had to the use the freedom-of information laws to investigate the design of a high rise apartment complex on Doncaster Hill. After design flaws were found, the developer had to change plans until the fire brigade was satisfied that

tile development complied with requirements. The MFB’s discovery underscored findings of the Victorian auditor -general, who had analysed how closely the state’s builders followed the building code. Of 401 building permits examined, 96 per cent didn’t comply.

Stairways In Case of Fire
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Never use a lift in the case of a fire. Lifts are not smoke or fire resistant. On every level of the building there is fire fighting equipment such as fire hose reels and portable fire extinguishers for residents to use in the case of fire.Know where these fire hose reels and portable fire extinguishers are and know how to use them.The front door of your apartment should be a certified fire resistant door. Making alterations to the front door can make it unsafe in the event of fire. Check with your building management before making alterations.

• Exit points should be clearly identifiable by an illuminated green and white exit sign. Familiarise yourself with the exit points that are in your building and where they lead to.
• Ensure your apartment has a suitable number of working smoke alarms installed.
• Develop a home escape plan from your apartment, and practise it regularly.
• Fire stairs provide a safe environment that will lead you to a safe place away from the building. Never chock open any fire stair doors as this will cause smoke and heat to enter the fire stairs.
• Fire stair doors and external apartment doors are designed to self close every time. Report any problems with these doors to your building management immediately.
• Never leave anything in a fire stair well at anytime!
• Never place burning or hot materials, flammable liquids or oily rags into garbage chutes.
• Sprinkler heads should not be interfered with. Never hang anything (coat hangers included) off sprinkler heads. You and your furniture will get very wet!
• Damage to sprinkler heads, excessive smoke from the kitchen or steam from the bathroom are major causes of false alarms in residential high rise buildings, You may be charged $500 for the infringement and up to $130 for an administration fee.

Fire safety tips

If you cannot escape by the fire stairs, do the following:

• Close all windows and doors to stop the smoke entering your apartment.
• Call the fire services and tell them there is a fire in your apartment block. Tell them your apartment number and that you are unable to get out of your apartment safely, and then follow any advice given to you by the fire service