Updated September 2026. This guide now combines three of our fire safety articles into one page: the 18 everyday tips, 13 ways to fireproof the outside of your home, and a step by step escape plan.
Most house fires I respond to are not mysteries. They start in the same handful of places, for the same handful of reasons: an unattended stove, a dryer nobody has cleaned in years, a space heater too close to a couch, an extension cord doing a job it was never rated for. The tips below are the ones that would have prevented the calls I actually go on.
There are few events more tragic than a house fire, especially if it involves the loss of a pet or person. In this article I wanted to give you some basic and practical fire safety tips you can use to keep yourself and your family safe.
Also, it’s important to note that this article is not sponsored by anyone and I do not recommend any particular brands. Please do your own research on what equipment works best for your budget and your needs.
Use combination photoelectric/ionization detectors
Everyone loves to save money, but this is one place you don’t want to shop on price. Smoke detectors are life saving devices and if that means you have to spend a few extra bucks to get a quality detector it’s always worth it if you need it.
When it comes to your standard residential smoke detector there are two types. The first is an ionization detector. These smoke detectors work by using two small metal plates along with a small amount of radioactive material to convert air molecules into ions that are both positively and negatively charged.
When the smoke from a fire enters the chamber where these ions are it disrupts the flow and sets off the alarm. If you want more information on how these work check out this chart from the NFPA here.
The second type of smoke detector is a photoelectric detector. These work by using a small beam of light inside a chamber in the detector. When smoke enters the chamber it disrupts the beam of light, forcing it to scatter to other sensors within the detector.
When it does the alarm goes off. If you want more information on how these work check out this chart from the NFPA here.
Here is an example of what I’m referring to (note the 10 year battery):
Place CO (carbon monoxide detectors) near every gas appliance
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a silent killer. It has no taste, smell or color and the only way to know you are suffering from CO poisoning is to feel the effects of it. Symptoms usually include nausea, headache, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath and more. This means it is important to have a detector to alert you to the presence of CO before you feel the symptoms.
There are two types of residential CO detectors out there. The first is a combination smoke detector/carbon monoxide detector. These are what I have in my utility room near my furnace. The other type is a stand alone carbon monoxide detector that plugs into the wall with a battery backup.
I recommend that you install a CO monitor in every room where you will have a gas appliance. This means laundry room (assuming you have a gas dryer), utility room (or wherever you keep your furnace, and the detector nearest the kitchen should be a combination detector.
Here are some examples of CO detectors:
If you’re unsure CALL!
I can’t tell you how many times i’ve shown up at someone’s house and they say “I really didn’t want to call but I didn’t know what else to do.”
The fire department is there to serve the public, and we respond to all kinds of calls. This doesn’t mean that anyone should abuse the 911 system, but if you are concerned or think there may be cause for concern in your home please don’t hesitate to call the fire department. We have a lot of tools at our disposal that allow us to check for heat, smoke or gases.
If you need us, call us.
Face pot handles over the stove
Most residential fires start in the kitchen, and if you think about it that makes sense. Where else in your home do you have a consistent combination of natural gas, open flame and high heat?nbsp;
That said, one of the easiest things you can do to prevent fires in your kitchen is to turn the handles of pots on the stove so they don’t stick out over the edge of the stove. That way it’s far more difficult for you to accidentally bump the handle.
This is especially important if you have children. As a father, I can tell you kids love to grab for things just out of reach, and if you leave a pot full of boiling water on the stove it only takes a split second for them to grab the handle and dump all of that hot water onto themselves.
Purchase 10 year smoke detectors
Let’s be honest, life can be busy, and if you’re like me (and most other people) changing your smoke detector batteries isn’t at the top of your to do list. Yes, the fire service tries hard to remind people to change their batteries when they change their clocks, but sometimes life gets in the way.
Introducing the 10 year battery. Modern smoke detectors now come equipped with a sealed 10 year battery. This means if you forget to change your batteries this spring or fall no worries you’re good to go. Yes they’re a little more expensive than your dollar store smoke detector, but for a few dollars per year I think it’s worth not having to worry about your batteries.
Here’s an example of a detector with a 10 year battery:
Check your cords
Electrical fires are nasty. One of the simplest things you can do is monitor your cords. For example, I can’t tell you how many homes I’ve been in where they are using indoor extension cords outside, run extension cords under carpeting, or my favorite they will load up multiple power strips on one outlet.
This is a disaster waiting to happen, so here are a few basic tips.
- Use grounded outlets or GFCI outlets, This is an inexpensive upgrade to your home that anyone can make.
- Do not use ancient power strips, You know that power strip that sits under your desk for the last decade or two? Ya, that one, spend a few bucks to get a new one.
- Extension cords are not meant to be walked on, Never, never, never run an extension cord under carpet. If you need power on the other side of the room hire an electrician to run new wiring in the wall.
- Do not use indoor extension cords outside, In case you never noticed, outdoor extension cords are far more heavy duty than your standard indoor cord. The reason is because they were designed to be more durable and face the elements.
Ensure every sleeping area has two exits
When I teach fire safety classes I regularly talk about knowing two ways out of your home, bedroom or any other room you may find yourself in. The reason for this is that fire is unpredictable and you do not want to be in a situation where you are trapped in a room with no way out.
These exits can be as simple as a door and a window, multiple windows or multiple doors. If there is a window or door you don’t use frequently be sure to check it every few months to ensure it is still operational.
Never allow smoking on your house
First, smoking is bad for you and you shouldn’t do it. Second, it makes your house smell and many people are not interested in buying or living in a home that was previously occupied by a smoker. Finally, smoking in your home can be a major fire hazard.
There are countless stories of people who fell asleep with a lit cigarette and the cigarette started a fire. If you’re lucky enough to make it out alive, you will probably not make it out unscathed.
Quick story (and a disclaimer: this is gory), I have a friend who worked for a large city fire department who was called to a house fire where this very thing happened. Somehow, this man made it outside alive.
When they pulled up, this man was completely engulfed in flames, running across the street. His clothes had been completely burned off and he was charred from head to toe.
When she looked in the street she noticed something like footprints and when she took a closer look she realized that it was the skin from the bottom of his feet that had melted and peeled off as he ran across the street.
Please, don’t smoke in your home.
ALWAYS have a fire extinguisher ACCESSIBLE in the home
No fire is “safe,” but most fires start very small and are usually pretty manageable. However, if you don’t have the tools or equipment to deal with during the early stage it can quickly turn deadly.
A simple thing you can do it purchase a few basic ABC fire extinguishers. These extinguishers will work on most fires in your home and are cheap and easy to use. I recommend you keep one in your utility room, garage and kitchen.
Here’s an example of a residential fire extinguisher.
Clean the lint from your dryer
One of the easiest ways to start a fire is to light some dryer lint. The problem is that you probably aren’t looking to start a fire in your dryer. Dryer fires are very common and one of the simplest and easiest things you can do is clean out the lint trap everytime you use your dryer.
In addition to that, be sure to clean out the vent hose that is used to move the warm air from your dryer to the outside of your home. This is a common place for lint to collect and can be a big fire hazard. The other problem with these lint hoses is that if a fire does start you may not know right away as many of these hoses are tucked behind walls and cabinets. This means a small fire can quickly grow and get out of hand.
Check your insurance
If you’re like most people, you purchase your home insurance every year and don’t pay much attention to the benefits in the policy. Please make sure your policy is enough to cover the potential damage to your home.
I have seen so many homeowners devastated as they stand on the sidewalk and watch their home go up in flames only to realize that they used cutrate home insurance. I know it may not seem important now, but trust me, if your were to ever have a house fire you will want good insurance that makes it easy to file a claim.
Preplan your “what if” with family members/friends ahead of time
You may think you know how you would act in an emergency, but what you think and what you do rarely are the same. That is why it’s so important for you to preplan with your family or roommates exactly what you would do in the event of a fire or other emergency.
This is particularly important if you have children or pets. Both children and pets tend to get scared and look for a place to hide. Make sure you know where they are in the home and how you could access them and get them to safety.
Teach your children
This one is pretty straightforward. Make sure your kids know the basics:
- Don’t play with matches
- How to call 911
- Home address and phone number
- Don’t play with or near the stove or fireplace
- Know two ways out of the home
Again, this may not seem like a big deal now, but when the time comes you want them to be prepared.
Also, check out the article I wrote on fire safety tips for kids.
Consider having a lockbox installed
This one may not prevent a fire, but it can prevent a lot of damage to your home in the event the fire department needs to get access to your home.
Imagine this, you and your family are on vacation. You get a phone call from a neighbor who ways it looks like they can see smoke in a bedroom window.
Turns out, something is on fire but because its early not much damage has been done. You, or your neighbor, calls the fire department, and when they arrive they have no access to your home. What do they do? You guessed it, break down the door.
Perhaps you could consider having a residential lockbox installed at your home. If you’re unfamiliar with what this is, it’s simple. It’s a small box secured to the side of your home with a combination that only you and the fire department know the code to.
That way, if the fire department or EMS ever needs access to your home and you can’t open the door, they can get inside your home with little to no damage.
These are very popular with senior citizens or individuals with limited mobility as well.
Keep dangerous/toxic materials/chemicals to a minimum
It was just a few weeks ago that I responded to a house fire where I heard some loud sounds coming from the garage. Unbeknownst to me, there were multiple propane tanks, oxygen bottles, settling torches, chlorine, gasoline and oil in the garage. Fortunately, everything turned out ok, but all of those things add to the already present danger of a house fire.
If you can, keep these things to a minimum.
Grab a ladder
If you live in a house with two or more stories, it may not be a bad idea to grab a residential escape ladder. I know it sounds cool to just jump from the second or third floor, but it certainly doesn’t feel good when you land. I highly recommend you spend a few dollars to keep an escape ladder in all second floor and above rooms.
Take EXTRA precaution on holidays
It seems like almost every holiday we get at least one call of someone that made one of these common mistakes that lead to a disaster. Be mindful during the holidays of some of the potential risks that you may encounter. Here are just a few to be aware of.
- Be careful with the turkey fryer. This is all too common during Thanksgiving, and here’s a video of what can happen if you don’t fry a turkey the right way:
- Check the cords for the Christmas tree. If you’ve been using the same Christmas lights for decades you may want to consider getting new ones. These cords and lights wear out over time and can easily become a fire hazard.
- Make sure your tree is watered. A bone dry Christmas tree is like having a match in the middle of your room. Make sure your tree stays healthy and watered.
- Careful with putting up lights on the house (fall risk). This may not catch your home on fire, but it can certainly ruin your day. If you’re putting lights on your house be sure to do it safely, with a partner and use a properly sized ladder.
Use wired smoke detectors with a security system
This one may be a little pricey, but if you can swing it, it’s worth it. If you can, opt for hardwired smoke detectors. This means the detectors are all connected and they run off the power to your house. That way, if one detector alarms, they all alarm. These detectors also have a battery backup in case the power goes out you won’t lose protection.
Couple this with a monitored security system and this can really help in the event there is a fire in your home.
13 Unusual Ways to Fireproof the Outside of Your Home
You don’t have to experience a wildfire in your area to want to safeguard your home from danger. Some homeowners may believe they’ve properly fireproofed their homes only to be rudely awoken when a fire does occur. How do you fireproof your home the right way?
Here are the top tips for safeguarding your home from fire:
- Rebuild your fence and deck
- Upgrade home address numbers
- Keep your gutters clean
- Trim your trees
- Bulk up your insurance
- Get rid of mulch
- Remove kindling from property
- Use metal screen for chimney
- Add metal window frames
Are some of these home changes and additions the cheapest thing ever? The answer is no, which you’d recall if you read our post on how much it costs to fireproof your home. That said, each of these changes is worth it. Keep reading to learn more about why that is so you can begin game planning for fireproofing your own home!
1. Rebuild Your Fence and Deck
Wooden fences are always trendy for residential properties because they’re inexpensive and easy to install. However, wood is also very flammable.
Even if a fire didn’t start on your property, a wooden fence could quickly become engulfed and spread the fire nearer to your home. If you had another fence material, the risk wouldn’t be so great.
Wooden decks aren’t different. Wood may be the standard when building decks, but it’s susceptible to warping, rotting, and, yes, easily catching alight.
It’s not going to be a low cost endeavor to rip out your fencing and deck and start afresh. You might feel downtrodden to do so, especially if your deck and/or fence are new or otherwise still in good condition.
Unless these home additions are built using flame resistant materials, then you can never rest easy at night knowing your home is as fireproof as it can be. That makes the replacements worth their weight in gold!
2. Upgrade Your Home’s Address Numbers
This might seem like a small, almost meaningless thing to do, but you’d be surprised!
If you call the fire department to report a fire on 23 Cherry Lane, then when the fire trucks drive down Cherry Lane, they need to be able to find you fast, as every second counts in a fire.
Faded numbers will make it nearly impossible for the firefighters to discern between 22 and 23, which wastes precious time.
To determine if your home address numbers need an upgrade, walk out into the middle of your street (when it’s safe to do so, of course), and look at your home. Can you read the numbers clearly, or are you having a hard time?
If you’re struggling to see your address numbers, then you can trust that anyone else is going to struggle too. Buy a fresh set of numbers.
You might also consider affixing a lamp or light source over the numbers and turning on the light at night. This way, if a fire occurs after dark, the firefighters will still be able to easily find your property.
3. Keep Your Gutters Clean
Cleaning your gutters is admittedly an unenviable task, so it’s one that homeowners put off until the last second.
It’s not only for the proper functioning of your gutters that it’s worthwhile to clean the gutters. It’s also to fireproof your home!
How so, we’re sure you’re wondering? Well, the leaves that get jammed into your gutters will begin breaking down between autumn and winter. By the time spring arrives, the small particles that were once leaves will dry out further.
Those small, dry particles are very flammable. It wouldn’t take much at all for the entire gutter to go up in smoke.
The proximity of the gutters to the rest of your home should have you going outside and cleaning your gutters immediately if you haven’t recently. Make sure you stay on top of this task, cleaning them at least twice a year.
4. Trim Your Trees
Trees are lovely to look at, as they add gorgeous greenery to your property and lend you more privacy. At the end of the day, trees are also fire hazards, so you should tread carefully if you have trees on your property.
What happens if the tree closest to your home gets struck by lightning? How damaging would that be? If you keep your trees neat, then the answer is not very.
First of all, you don’t want any branches of your tree lingering over your gutters. The leaves will deposit into the gutters, and you already know that’s a fire risk.
You should also trim any branches over the roof or power lines. If the branches get ensnarled by power lines, or if the power lines receive a sudden jolt like during a storm, the whole tree could begin burning.
Branches that hover over your home’s roof could cause a roof collapse if the tree gives way and your roof is old. That’s not a fire risk but a general house risk.
As for all the other branches on the tree, they should be three times taller than shrubs on your property and six feet from ground level.
If you’re not comfortable trimming trees yourself, you can always call a professional service and let them take care of it.
5. Bulk Up Your Insurance Plan
Although insurance won’t do anything to fireproof your home, per se, it’s always a nice feeling to know that your insurance will kick in and pay for significant fire damage if it were to occur.
Review your current homeowner’s insurance plan. Does it include any kind of fire protection? If not, contact your insurance provider and ask if you can add a fire protection plan to your existing policy.
Otherwise, now is a great time to switch insurance providers so your plan amply protects your property from fire damage.
Some insurance protections you might add include personal liability insurance, additional living expenses, extended replacement costs, personal property, and dwelling protection.
Personal liability coverage will chip in for property damage and/or bodily injury if you’re liable for the fire. Additional living expenses coverage will help you rebuild if your home was badly damaged by fire and is now uninhabitable.
An extended replacement cost policy adds coverage at a rate of up to 150 percent of the policy limit for your home after a loss like a fire. A personal property plan safeguards your possessions while dwelling protection helps with paying for the house damages.
6. Keep Access Roads and Driveways Available
Many homeowners get caught up in protecting their homes, which is great, but have you thought about how the fire department would access your home?
Fire trucks are burly vehicles, but they have no greater tires than any other commercial vehicle on the road. That means driving up your lawn to get to your home is not something the fire department will do unless they have absolutely no other option.
Ideally, the fire department wants to arrive via access roads and your driveway. If neither is accessible, then the fire department now has a harder job to do.
They must find water hookups and hope they have a long enough hose to reach the blaze from where they have to park.
As often as you can, keep these parts of your property clear so that the fire department can easily access your home. They’ll be able to do their job more expediently.
7. Get Rid of Mulch on Your Property
Mulch is a convenient landscaping solution but could also be a fire risk. Organic mulch materials such as pine needles and wood chips will easily catch fire, giving the fire a path to spread to your home.
If you must use these flammable landscaping materials, at least make sure those areas of the mulch are further back than five feet from your property.
To be on the safe side, you’re better off replacing all mulch with materials such as bricks, rocks, and pavers, which are noncombustible.
8. Remove Kindling
Keeping your yard clean will also behoove you as part of your fireproofing plan. All debris has got to go, including dying or dead vegetation, branches, and kindling.
Put this stuff in trash bags and compost it or recycle it if you want, but don’t keep it on your property. It’s all highly flammable!
9. Use Metal Chimney Screens
Homeowners with chimneys need to take extra precautions; that also applies to properties with stovepipe outlets.
These openings need a nonflammable screen affixed to the top. The best material for the screen is metal.
The size of the metal screen openings matters, so shop carefully. If the openings are bigger than half an inch, then embers from the chimney or stovepipe can jump out and begin a fire on your property.
If the openings are smaller than 3/8 inches, the embers can get trapped, making your chimney or stovepipe a literal hotbed for fire.
10. Install Metal Window Frames
New windows aren’t cheap, but yours likely warrant a replacement as you go about fireproofing the house.
Single pane windows are especially dangerous in a wildfire. The windows aren’t as strong as dual pane windows. Between the heat and the fire, single pane windows can crack and/or melt as the fire rages.
Double pane windows will better safeguard your property so you can enjoy greater peace of mind. You’ll also appreciate the increased sound insulating properties of double pane windows.
The framing of your new windows should be metal, never plastic or wood. As we established, plastic can easily melt, and wood is highly flammable.
Although metal window frames aren’t as appealing as the alternatives (at least not to most homeowners), they’re the safest.
11. Replace the Walls and Roof with Fire Resistant Materials
Do you know what materials were used to construct your home? If not, then it’s time to go back to the original blueprints and learn.
Let’s start with the wall siding, as it’s usually built from flammable materials such as wood boards or panels. Your shingles may also be wood, and when these parts of your home ignite, you and your family are in a very perilous situation.
Wooden roof panels are just as bad and can wreak as much havoc.
No one wants to undergo major home reconstruction like these jobs require, but these are arguably the most significant changes you can make if you want a fireproof home.
Fire retardant wood, fiber cement, and stucco are all excellent replacement materials, as each is exceptionally ignition resistant.
At least once you have a new roof, you won’t have to worry about replacing it for another 30 years or so. Your siding might even be good for life depending on the material you select!
12. Protect Soffits and Eaves
While taking care of the upper part of your home, don’t forget the eaves and soffits. Both must be protected from fires using metal boxes or another ignition resistant material.
Once you take care of those tasks, you can rest assured that your roof and surrounding structures are in the best shape they can be.
13. Cover Vent Openings
Last but certainly not least are your home vents.
Vents are excellent for providing airflow throughout your home, but during a fire, embers can easily enter and exit through the vents, creating the potential for a fire to spread.
Flame resistant vent covers made of metal mesh will protect your home. Again, the mesh opening size is important, with a recommended size between 1/16 and 1/8 inches.
Bottom Line
Fireproofing your home the right way is not cheap, nor is it fast and easy. It’s efficient though, and that’s what matters. Making these changes will give you the greatest peace of mind that you and your family are truly safe from fire.
You don’t have to roll out all these home improvements right away unless you want to but do plan a timeline for the work to be done. You never know when a fire can occur, after all!
How to Escape a House Fire Unharmed
Most people don’t like to think about how they’d handle their home or building igniting because it’s a such a terrifying proposition, but you can’t afford to bury your head in the sand. You need an actionable plan for how to escape a fire. What should you do?
Here’s how to actually escape a fire:
- Make a fire preparedness plan
- Plan two exits for every room in the house
- Come up with an escape method for upper floors
- Take stairs instead of elevators
- Shout out your location
- Check doors before you open them
- Practice your plan
I know, it all seems so simple on the surface, but you’d be surprised by how many people blank at the sight of a fire and completely forget everything they’ve learned. This guide will tell you how to escape whether it’s a house fire or a building fire at work.
Make a Fire Preparedness Plan
Fire preparedness plans are not something you do in grade school only to abandon the concept for the rest of your life.
Families, it’s up to Mom and Dad to create a fire preparedness plan for you and the kids to adhere to.
If you’re a part of a business, then it’s a good idea to drop into your boss or manager’s office and ask them what kind of fire preparedness plan they have. Then ask them the last time it’s been updated.
You want to keep the plan current. Anytime you move into a new home or office, you need to create a new plan from scratch. The old plan accommodates for the former layout so it’s no longer applicable.
Even if you don’t move but you remodel, you still need to update your plan. After all, if you add a new wing to your home or office building but have no fire preparedness, then that’s bad news for whoever occupies that space!
A fire preparedness plan is a clear outline of how you and your family or colleagues can escape if a fire occurs. I’ll delve into the components of the plan for much of the rest of this guide!
Also, if you’ve ever wanted to know some things you should never do in a fire, here’s a list I wrote of 11 things to never do in a fire.
Plan Two Exits for Every Room in the House
Heat rises, which you probably already knew, but did you know that smoke also rises?
This can leave you with a very limited amount of time to get out of a room before the smoke can become so blinding and choking that you’re stranded.
Here’s what I recommend. For any room in your home or office building, you need to find two areas that make for a conceivable exit point.
Doors are the most obvious ones, but what else can you use? Maybe a window or a crawlspace?
The area should be accessible enough on its own that you’re not wasting precious time making it accessible.
In other words, while you could climb through your office’s ductwork system (depending on their size), but you’d have to remove the grates first.
In a fire, every second counts. You cannot waste precious time on a task that might ultimately fail, as it can cost you your life in the end.
That’s why you need two exit points, so if one gets blocked off or is otherwise inaccessible, you don’t waste time you don’t have trying to come up with an exit plan.
You can quickly make your exit out of the room one way or another.
Come up with an Escape Method for Upper Floors
Escaping out of a building that’s single story is relatively easy, as there’s no risk of having to jump or climb.
Many office complexes are multistory buildings though. For years, the trend in homebuilding has been two stories over one story, as which homeowner wouldn’t want more space?
Having space is great, but how do you escape from a second story bedroom, a third story converted home office, or a 10th-story office complex?
The answer, as I’ll talk about in just a moment, is not to use an elevator! You’ll need a different plan of action, sorry.
You might be able to makeshift some sheets to climb down or even use a rope depending on the room and what it’s being used for.
If you don’t know what to do because you can’t see a conceivable way out, do not open the window. You’re introducing oxygen to the fire, which will only make it more severe.
Don’t try to jump either, especially if you’re not sure if you can survive the jump.
Instead, try to exit the room and find a staircase rather than linger where there is no possibility for escape.
Take Stairs Instead of Elevators
This next tip only applies to those in commercial buildings that are on fire, but it’s such an important tip.
I know your first inclination in a fire is going to be to hop on the elevator and ride it safely to the bottom.
Riding an elevator during a fire is so risky for a multitude of reasons.
For one, if you’re thinking you’ll take the elevator to the ground floor, so is everyone else in your office building, and yes, I do mean everyone.
They’ll crowd the elevators and create a dangerous situation. If not that, then you could be shut out.
All that is assuming that the elevators are even in working order. The fire could have shorted the elevators so they can’t transport anyone.
Even if the elevators are working right this second, they could stop at any time. It would be very difficult for the fire department to rescue you in a stuck elevator. You’re also making their jobs harder, which could impede rescue efforts.
Instead of banking on the elevator, make a beeline for the closest stairs.
Will the stairs be jam packed? You betcha. However, stairs aren’t going to stop working like an elevator can.
That doesn’t mean a stairwell can’t catch fire and force you to have to redirect your route, but they’re a safer alternative to taking the elevator.
Just remember to keep things calm, orderly, and single file and you’ll get to the bottom floor.
Shout Out Your Location
In a house fire, there are only so many spots your family can be in. You want to begin shouting to them to let them know there’s a fire in case they’re somehow not aware.
Don’t rely on fire alarms alone, as sometimes, it’s hard to hear them from certain parts of the house.
I don’t recommend shouting and screaming too much, as you’re using a lot of energy to do that. You could also end up inhaling smoke.
However, before the air gets too clogged with smoke, such as when a fire first begins, it’s fine to verbally relay your location to the others in your household and tell them where to go.
Check Doors Before You Open Them
I’ve talked about this on the blog before, but it seems like a good time to mention it again.
Although you’re going to want to rush out of the first door you see that you think can guide you to freedom, and that goes for both house fires and office fires, you have to take a moment and be smart.
You have no idea what’s behind that door. It could be an entry into the next part of the house or building so you can begin your evacuation plan, but the door can just as easily lead you deeper into the fire.
Once you open the door, sometimes it’s too late to take it back. You’ll be blasted by a strong wave of heat, smoke, and flames, which can disorient and even injure you.
Before you blindly open a door, put your hand up to the door and feel it. You don’t have to touch the door directly, only feel for heat with your palms open.
Trust me, if the door is giving on heat, you will know it without touching the door directly.
Do not open that door, as you’re going to walk into a worse situation than the one you’re in now. Use a window or an alternate mode of escape, as you’re supposed to have two options per room!
Practice Your Plan
Having a fire preparedness plan is only useful if you stay current on the information.
At least once per year, you and the family or your colleagues should have a fire drill. Imagine exactly how you’d handle the situation in a fire and then make your way out of the building.
You can even do this twice a year if you want!
Fire drills provide valuable information. Maybe you had thought that you could use a window to get out of a room, but the window doesn’t want to budge. Perhaps you had assumed that most of your colleagues would go for the staircase, but everyone tried for the elevator instead.
This is good to know! Now you can correct your mistakes when in a perfectly safe environment rather than in a life or death situation.
That’s why fire drills and practicing your fire escape plan is so very important.
As a firefighter, I’ve seen many fires, and you can’t always wait for the fire department to rescue you. At the first signs of fire, you need to evacuate, taking the stairs instead of an elevator.
I hope you keep the information in this guide in the back of your mind, as it just could save your life someday!
