Survive A Fire In Your Home … Plan Your Escape Today!

Anyone who has lived through a fire will tell you what a terrifying experience it is. Unfortunately, many people who experience fire never get a chance to tell their story – to warn others of the dangers of fire.

Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds. Your ability to get out depends on advance warning from smoke alarms and advance planning – a home fire escape plan that everyone in your family is familiar with and has practiced.

The Greater Madawaska Fire Department wants you to be prepared if a fire strikes your home. Please take a few minutes with your family to make a fire escape plan by following the nine simple instructions listed below. Every household must have a fire escape plan and a working smoke alarm to help ensure survival in a fire. Begin your plan by checking your smoke alarm to make sure that it is working. The smoke alarm will wake you up if a fire occurs while you are asleep.

1. Draw a floor plan of your home

Use a grid to draw a floor plan of your home. You should draw a floor plan for each floor of your home.

2. Include all possible emergency exits

Draw in all walls, doors, windows and stairs. This will show you and your family all possible escape routes at a glance.

3. Include any important features that could help with your escape

Doors and windows are escape exits from your home. Are there any other features that could help you get out safely?

4. Mark two escape routes from each room

There is a main exit from every room. This will be the exit to use if there is no apparent danger. If you are unable to use the main exit because of smoke or fire, you must have an alternate exit. The second exit is usually the window. Special consideration should be given to planning escape routes from the bedrooms as most fires occur at night when everyone is sleeping. This second exit must be practical and easy to sue. Make sure that the occupant of that bedroom is able to use the second exit.

5. Remember – some people may need help to escape

Decide in advance who will assist the very young, elderly or physically/mentally challenged members of your household. A few minutes of planning will save valuable seconds in a real emergency.

6. Choose a place outside where everyone will meet

Choose a meeting place that every one will remember. It is a good idea to choose a spot at the front of your home or close to your neighbour’s house. Everyone must know to go directly to this meeting place so they can be accounted for. No one should go back into a burning building for any reason.

7. Call the fire department from a neighbour’s home or a safe location

Once at the meeting place, someone can be sent to the neighbour’s home to call the fire department, include the neighbour’s name and the fire department phone number on your plan. Mark the street address of your home on your fire escape plan. Always keep the Fire Department’s number by your own phone in case a neighbour needs to call.

8. Make sure everyone is familiar with the home escape plan

Go over the entire plan with everyone. Discuss primary and secondary escape routes from each bedroom. Ensure that all children know the plan. Walk through the escape routes for each room with the entire family. Use this walk-through exercise to check routes, making sure all exits are practical and easy to use.

It is important that all windows will open and that no heavy furniture blocks any escape route. If escape ladders or ropes are to be used, make sure the area is accessible and that the appropriate individual is capable of using them.

9. Practice your escape plan

After reviewing the floor plan with the members of your household, have an actual practice to ensure that everyone knows what to do. Practice your escape plan every six months. In a real fire, you must react without hesitation as your escape routes may be quickly blocked by smoke or flames. Your practice drills will ensure that everyone knows what to do when fire strikes.

10. Crawl don’t walk