Creating a Fire Plan

An estimated 358,500 home fires occur every year resulting in thousands of deaths.  While all fires cannot be prevented, injury and death may be avoided by creating a fire plan.

• Choose an outside meeting place
  • This should be safe distance from your home. This meeting place should be agreed upon and marked in the fire escape plan. Mailboxes and streetlights are usually good options.
• Try to create two escape routes from each room in your home.
  • Whether it’s a door or window, these exits should have a clear path free of furniture or clutter.
• Discuss your plan with each member of your household to be sure that everyone understands and remembers what needs to be done in case of emergency.
• Assign buddies
  • If there are infants, elderly, or household members with mobility limitations be sure to assign them a buddy to help them out of the house if there is a fire.
• Draw out your floor plan and label safe exits
  • Keep this visual accessible as it may be helpful to guests in your home that aren’t familiar with your plan
• Have a backup plan
  • If the planned exits are blocked and it’s not possible to get out of the house, close any doors between you and the fire. Then place a towel or clothing under the door to block smoke. Go to an exterior window and call the fire department to report your location.
• Practice, practice, practice
  • In times of emergency it can be hard to think. Each member of your household should practice the fire plan at least once a year.

Smoke inhalation is dangerous, after a fire starts you may have less than two minutes to get out safely so be sure to time your plan once it’s created. Along with having a fire escape plan, households should also have smoke detectors in each room and a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.