fire evacuation procedures
Lewisham Council is reviewing its fire evacuation procedures after recent incidents at Laurence House.
Lewisham Council's Health and Safety Committee reviewed fire evacuation procedures at Laurence House in February 2026, following two recent incidents. A planned evacuation on October 16, 2025, saw the building cleared in 7 minutes and 30 seconds, with no reported accidents. However, an unplanned evacuation on November 20, 2025, was triggered accidentally by a staff member.
The committee discussed findings from both events as part of its review of fire evacuation procedures, the established methods for safely evacuating a building during a fire. No further meetings or actions are currently scheduled regarding this review.
Key facts
- Lewisham Council's Health and Safety Committee reviewed fire evacuation procedures in February 2026. Source
- A planned evacuation at Laurence House on October 16, 2025, cleared the building in 7 minutes and 30 seconds. Source
- An unplanned evacuation at Laurence House on November 20, 2025, was triggered when a staff member leaned on an alarm. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.