We’ve all learned about fire safety when in elementary school, but there are still some things you may not know about how to stay safe during a fire.
Before the Fire
- Close all your doors before you go to sleep! If a fire starts, closed doors will cause it to spread slower.
- Make sure you have working smoke detectors. At a minimum, be sure to have smoke detectors outside every door.
- Have a fire escape plan and make sure everyone in your house knows about it.
- Make sure you know how to use a fire extinguisher! If the fire is new enough and small enough, a fire extinguisher may be able to stop the fire before the whole building burns down. However, it’s still important to call the fire department to check out the damage so you know if there are any extra sparks hiding around the burnt area!
During the Fire
You and your household’s safety is the most important thing when a fire takes place. Stay safe during a fire by finding a way out and keeping the fire from spreading towards you.
- We all know about “Stop, Drop, and Roll,” and it’s not bad advice. If you are on fire, running will only feed the flame when you need to be focusing on snuffing it out instead.
- Close the doors! If there are any open doors, close them. Both smoke and fire will spread slower when doors are closed.
- Don’t exit out of doors that are warm to the touch or that has smoke coming out from under them. There is probably fire behind it! Opening your door will make the fire worse by giving it more oxygen.
- If one exit is blocked, find another one. Doors aren’t the only escape option. Windows also work as an exit!
- Cover your mouth with a damp cloth to help decrease the amount of smoke you breathe in.
- Get outside and call 911. This may be obvious, but a lot of people stop to grab possessions before getting out of their burning home. Don’t do this! Worry about getting yourself out instead.
After the Fire
It’s important to stay safe during a fire, but be sure to be safe afterwards too.
- Keep out of the building until you are told it is safe to enter again.
- Call your insurance agent to figure out what to do and what possessions are covered.
- Find any property or possessions that were not damaged during the fire and put them in a safe place.
- Find a restoration company that can help with cleanup and construction!