Dublin Fire Brigade issue warning over buggy and mop stored on stairs in apartment complex

Dublin Fire Brigade has issued a warning to apartment dwellers not to use fire escape stairways as storage areas.

In their warn, the firefighters said: "Fire escape stairways are designed to be a safe place in the event of a fire. They should not be used as a storage area.

"Doors leading on to the stairway should be fire rated and kept closed at all times. This prevents smoke filling the stairway," they added.

Read More: Mysterious death of Irish mum whose body washed up on UK beach

They shared the advice with a picture of a mop bucket and child's buggy left in the fire escape stairwell of a local building. The equipment is being stored directly under a fire safety advice poster.

The storage of equipment in stairwells like this may hinder evacuation plans which Dublin Fire Brigade advise every household has.

"An evacuation plan is especially important if you (or someone in your home) might find it difficult to escape quickly without assistance. By planning and practising how you will get out with the whole family, you can be more confident about a safe escape," they said in previous advice.

Here's how to make your evacuation plan:

• Plan two escape routes to get out of the house
• Always ensure that keys for doors and windows are readily available
• Keep escape routes clear
• Practice the plan
• Close all doors behind you as you leave
• Crawl low in smoke as the air is cleaner at ground level
• Do not re-enter the house for any reason
• Phone the fire brigade as soon as possible
• If you are trapped in a room close the door and seal the bottom of the door with a towel or blanket
• Go to the window, open it and attract attention
• At first floor level, as a last resort you can hang from the window sill and drop to the ground
• Always lower children first, never expect them to follow you

READ MORE:

• Irish mum-of-two believes she had heart attack from stress of losing life savings to cowboy builder

• Louis Walsh's boyband already tipped for Christmas number one

• Gardai questioning two Dublin Airport workers after cocaine worth €1m seized

• Delta Airlines flight bound for Boston declares hydraulics emergency as it diverts to Shannon

• Dublin named as most expensive city in Europe for remote workers

Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter