Exiting Your Home During a Fire

The speed at which you leave the fire depends on various factors, such as having a fire extinguishing system such as a fire sprinkler, a fire alarm system, and having a previous plan to escape the fire. After the fire started, the fire spread quickly in the building and spread everywhere. This means that after the sound of the smoke detector, you have about 2 minutes to leave the building very soon.

There are several steps involved in setting up an emergency exit plan in the event of a fire. These steps are as follows:

Step 1: Find the map if you live in a multi-level building such as a condo. It does not matter if the map is very accurate. It is enough to clearly show the ways out during the accident.

Step 2: Examine your home and thoroughly inspect the various exits and hazards. For different buildings and different rooms, we have to find 2 exit routes to save ourselves and our family by using the other route if one of the routes is closed. Carefully display the location of doors and windows on the map. Also clearly show the exact location of the fire alarm system, the location of the fire extinguisher and the fire box on the map.

Step 3: Be sure to remove any obstacles on the way out. Doors and windows should open and close easily (repair if damaged). Any failure to open and close doors and windows during an accident will add to your stress.

Step 4: If you have people with physical disabilities, the elderly, or children, be sure to find someone to help you get out during a fire. Make special arrangements for people to leave in the event of a fire. For example, children, people with physical disabilities, the elderly and then other people leave the building, respectively.

Step 5: Set up a meeting place after leaving the building. This place can be next to a tree in the yard, the yard of a neighbor’s house or on the side of the road in front of the house. All occupants of the building should be aware of its exact location. Also, the distance of this place from the center of the fire should be enough so that the meeting place has sufficient fire safety.

Step 6: Ask all residents, especially children, to remember the emergency numbers. Numbers should be memorized so that emergency and fire departments can be contacted without delay in the event of an emergency.

Step 7: Identify the emergency exit or emergency staircase with a dashboard. This sign should be easy to see day and night.

Step 8: Stick to the emergency plan of the house or apartment in case of fire as a road map on the wall at a suitable height and place of the house so that everyone can see it. Even when you have a guest, show him the map to be informed of emergency exit routes in case of danger.

Step 9: Check your street nameplates and paint or replace them if they are not clear or old. So that fire and ambulance forces can easily find your address in the event of a possible accident.