Major Fire
Fires can ignite through accidents, deliberate acts, infrastructure faults, or natural conditions like lightning or extended hot, dry weather.
On this Page: What to do / How to Prepare / How to recover / Supporting your Community / Protecting your Business
What to do
Evacuation of your property
- If you are advised to leave the area for your safety, decide where you will go and how you will get there
- Ensure you have enough fuel in your vehicle for your journey
- Know how to safely turn off your electricity, water and gas supplies (if you’re unsure, ask your supplier company)
- Remember to take your medication with you
- Where possible, take your pets with you
- Let your neighbour(s) know what you are doing – where you are staying/going
Staying in your property
- Have supplies in your home that will enable you to cope for up to three days if you are unable to evacuate
- Take your valuable items upstairs, if possible, or place them up high in cupboards/shelves to protect them
- Avoid walking through flood water as much as possible – there can be hidden dangers such as debris/ sharp objects
Staying informed
For the most up-to-date information and actions, follow:
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We can all be better prepared
Our The ‘Are you ready’ booklet brings together advice from various organisation to help you and your family take simple steps to reduce risk, prepare for and respond to emergencies such as fire, flood and loss of power.
Check if your home is at risk
Find out if your property is within a flood risk area.
Create an evacuation plan
Plan where you will go if you have to evacuate.
Sign up for flood warnings
Sign up for flood warnings by phone, text or email
Prepare your property
Fit appropriate flood protection devices to your property.
Priority Services Register
This is a free service that support to vulnerable customers.
Have supplies in your home
Tinned & long life products & alternative cooking methods.
What to do if your property was flooded
Reporting Flooding
If you have experienced a flood, you can report this to Gloucestershire County Council using its Flood Online Reporting Tool (FORT). If life is in danger, ring 999; reporting on FORT will not trigger an emergency response. River flooding can be reported to Environment Agency’s 24/7 incident hotline number 0800 80 70 60.
If you were Flooded
After a flood, prioritise safety by documenting damage, having all utilities professionally checked, ensuring tap water is safe, using protective gear during clean‑up, and looking after both your physical health and emotional wellbeing.
After a Flood
Keep monitoring Environment Agency flood alerts, follow updates on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, report any property flooding, and contact your local council for recovery guidance.
Supporting your Community
Community resilience means people and neighbourhoods using local skills, knowledge and resources to look after themselves and each other during emergencies, working alongside but not replacing emergency services. Being prepared—knowing the risks you face, having basic plans for your household, and identifying neighbours who may need extra help—reduces harm and speeds recovery, especially when responders must prioritise the most urgent cases.
Many communities formalise this readiness with a simple Community Emergency Plan template and supporting guidance, which captures practical arrangements and contact details, so groups can act quickly and coherently. Testing those plans is equally important: simple checks (for example, a call‑out to verify contacts) or full exercises (such as opening a local Place of Safety) reveal gaps and build confidence. Local multi‑agency groups, like the LRF Community Resilience Group in Gloucestershire, provide a toolkit, guidance and workshops to help communities prepare and practise.
Protecting your Business
Business continuity management (BCM) ensures that an organisation can continue operating during disruptions. It involves analysing business processes, assessing risks, and creating plans to maintain critical functions. Key steps include identifying potential threats, evaluating their impact, and developing strategies to mitigate risks.
The BCM plan should include clear procedures for recovery, regular testing, and updates. It also covers compliance with regulations like the Protect Duty, which addresses counter-terrorism measures. Regular testing ensures the plan’s effectiveness and readiness in case of emergencies. Business continuity management helps organisations identify the risks that could interrupt operations and put in place proportionate plans to reduce disruption and recover quickly. It’s essential because businesses with continuity arrangements are far more likely to survive major incidents—flooding, fire, cyberattacks or staff shortages—and small firms in particular can suffer disproportionate harm from even short interruptions. A simple, common‑sense approach—gather colleagues, list core activities, and assess what might go wrong and how likely it is—will reveal the biggest remaining risks to plan for.