Fire and emergency evacuation

Information for Queensland public housing tenants.

Being prepared and taking simple precautions at home can help keep you and your family safe from fire.

If you live in a unit complex, you should also attend our annual fire evacuation drills to learn how to evacuate safely.

Safety tips for your home

• Create a fire escape plan.
• Read these tips on fire safety at home.
• Maintain your smoke alarms: follow the instructions on your smoke alarm sticker (usually on the inside of your linen cupboard door) to ensure your smoke alarms are working properly. Read more about smoke alarms.

Fire plans for units

Fire evacuation plans have been installed in common areas of unit complexes to help you evacuate the building safely and quickly.

Take the time to look at these plans and remember the possible escape routes you can take in an evacuation.

If the signs are damaged or missing, please contact us to request maintenance. Read more about property maintenance.

Evacuation drills in unit complexes

Under the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008, occupants of some types of unit complexes must get instructions on the correct procedures to follow in a fire or other emergency situation.

We conduct these drills each year for public housing unit complexes.

These drills help you, your household and your visitors understand how to evacuate the unit complex safely in a fire or other emergency.

Who runs the drills

We engage qualified contractors to run your fire drill.

They also check that all firefighting equipment required at your complex is installed and has been tested to meet relevant building requirements and standards.

Note: the contractor can’t pass on any maintenance requests you may have. Contact your nearest Housing Service Centre to raise any maintenance requests. Read more about property maintenance.

When and where the drill occurs

An evacuation drill happens each year. The contractor advises you in writing of the scheduled date and time.

The drill takes about 30 minutes.

The fire drill training is conducted in a communal area of your complex. The contractor doesn’t enter your unit to perform the fire drill.

What you need to do

Before the drill, check the ‘fire evacuation diagram’ to find the ‘assembly point’ for evacuations. You’ll find the fire evacuation diagram either on the external walls near the entry to your unit or on the way to your unit.

If you’re home at the time of the drill, meet the contractor at the assembly point at the scheduled time.

Follow any other instructions the contractor gives you.

If you can’t attend

If you can’t attend a fire drill, the contractor gives you a copy of the fire evacuation diagram for your unit (either placed under your front door or in your letterbox).