Did You Know...
- In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can turn into a major fire.
- Fire can spread rapidly throughout your home, leaving as little as one or two minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds.
- Only 47% of families have developed and practiced a home, fire escape plan.
- Every two and a half hours, someone is killed in a home fire. In a typical year, 20,000 people are injured in a home fire.
- Having a working smoke alarm reduces the chance of dying in a fire by nearly half.
- Children and older adults are twice as likely to die in a home fire.
- A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire.
Top Safety Tips
Create a Home Fire Escape Plan
- Draw your home floor plan.
- Label all the rooms and identify the doors and windows.
- Plan 2 escape routes from every room.
- Provide alternatives for anyone with a disability.
- Agree on a meeting place where everyone will gather after you have escaped.
Practice Your Home Fire Escape Plan
- Review your escape plan with everyone that stays in the house, including children.
- Test the smoke alarm, monthly.
- Practice crawling low beneath the smoke.
- Remember to check doors for heat with your hand; if a door is hot, do not open it.
- Close the doors as you leave.
- Practice with a collapsible ladder if you have one.
- Go directly to your meeting place; do not stop to find your pets or valuables.
- Remember to get out and stay out.
- Practice your plan at least twice a year.
This page was last modified on 03/21/2022