Pelham Fire Department

Home Escape Plans

The best way to protect everyone in your home from death or injury in a fire is to know what to do when you hear the sound of your smoke alarms.

Sit down with everyone in your home and talk about the best ways to get out quickly in the event of a fire.

Draw a floor plan of your home that shows two ways out of each room. Post the plan where everyone can see it, e.g. on the refrigerator.

Agree on a meeting place outside the home, away from the building, where everyone can gather after escaping a fire. That way, you can count heads and make sure everyone is safe.

Most fatal home fires happen at night, so send everyone to his or her sleeping area and sound the smoke alarm. Close off some exits and pretend they’re blocked by smoke or flame. Make sure everyone leaves the home and gathers at your meeting place. Practice your plan by staging a home fire drill every six months.

Make sure everyone in your home (including visitors) can hear and recognize the sound of your smoke alarms. Make sure everyone knows to dial 911 for help from a safe location. If windows or doors have security bars. Make sure the bars have quick-release devices on the inside. Make sure your street number is visible from the road. If there are infants, older adults, or people with specific needs in your home, make sure that someone is assigned to assist them in the fire drill and in the event of an emergency. Keep stairways and exits clear and free of clutter.

Test doors before opening them. Feel the door if it is cool, open it slowly. If smoke pours through, close the door and use your second way out of the room. If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit. Close doors behind you as you escape. Fire spreads more rapidly through open doors.