Home Fire Evacuation Plan

2/15/2023 (Permalink)

Fires are a serious threat to our homes and families. In the event of a fire, you need to know what to do. You should be prepared with an evacuation plan for your family and have an escape route that doesn't put anyone at risk. A fire can spread quickly through walls, floors and ceilings so it's important to stay out of the building if there is a fire until firefighters arrive on scene.

Draw a map of your house.

This is the most important step in creating a home fire evacuation plan, so take time to do it right. Your map should include all rooms, hallways, doors and windows in your home. Use arrows to show the direction of traffic flow (for example: if you were leaving through the front door). Use numbers to label each room and label each door or window with its number on your diagram.

Identify two ways out of each room.

You should identify two ways out of each room. If you have a window, make sure it is not blocked by furniture or other items. If you have a door, make sure it is not blocked by furniture or other items. Choose a safe meeting place outside of your home in case of fire. Make sure it is in a safe place and can be easily found by everyone in the family. If you have pets, keep them nearby so they don't get lost or hurt while trying to escape from the fire. If you are unable to get out of your home due to injury or lack of mobility, stay near a window and call 911 using your cell phone or landline.

Escape Safety Ladders.

Safety ladders are a good way to get out of a second-story window in the event of a fire. They should be installed at least one foot above the window sill, and used in pairs with one person holding onto the ladder while another climbs down.

Pick someone who is calm and can help. Make sure they know the escape plan, and that they are nearby when the fire starts. If you have children or older adults in your family, it's a good idea to pick someone who has experience helping these people out of their homes in an emergency situation.

Meeting place outside of the home

Make sure everyone knows when to go outside and where to meet. Make sure you have the phone numbers of all members of your family, including their work and cell phones, written down in case you need them during an emergency. If there are children living at home, make sure they know how to get out of the house without help. Not all children can do this by themselves as young as five years old.

Smoke Alarms

Make sure smoke alarms are installed on every level of your home and inside each bedroom. Test them once a month, if not more often. If you're hearing impaired or hard of hearing, make sure to have a backup warning system such as strobe lights or bells that can be heard through closed doors and windows.

If you have young children or older adults in your home, make sure they know how to escape the home safely. Give SERVPRO of East Greenwich/Warwick/Cranston a call if you are in need of help after a fire loss in your East Greenwich, Rhode Island home.