Fire Prevention & Survival
Structure fires:
A fire can engulf a structure in a matter of minutes. Understanding the basic characteristics of fire and learning proper safety practices can be the key to surviving a structure fire.
Before a fire:
Top Ten Fire Safety Tips
- Install smoke detectors.
- Know two ways out.
- Crawl low in smoke.
- Make an escape plan.
- Practice your escape plan.
- Don't go back in, no matter what!
- Choose a meeting place.
- Test every door for heat.
- At work or home, plan to escape.
- Dial 9-1-1 for Fire, Police, or Ambulance.
- Remember, if a fire threatens your home, you should leave first, and then call
9-1-1 from a neighbor's house. Many people who die in fires actually die from smoke inhalation, not from the flames. So get out first, before you are overcome by the smoke and fumes. - Purchase collapsible escape ladders for upper floor windows and practice using them.
- Install fire extinguishers in the home and teach family members how to use them.
- Be careful when cooking. Keep the stove area clean and clear of combustibles such as bags, boxes and other appliances. If a fire starts, put a lid over the burning pan or use the fire extinguisher. Never pour water on grease fires.
- Keep your electrical wiring in good condition. Have wire replaced if it is frayed or cracked. Make sure wiring is not under rungs, over nails. or in high traffic areas. Do not overload outlets or extension cords.
During a fire:
- Get out as quickly and safely as possible.
- Use the stairs to escape (never an elevator).
- When evacuating, stay low to the ground.
- If possible, cover your mouth with a cloth to avoid inhaling smoke and gases.
- If smoke is pouring in around the bottom of a door or it feels hot, keep the door closed. If there is no smoke at the bottom or top and the door is not hot, then open the door slowly. If there is too much smoke or fire in the hall, slam the door shut.
Wildland fires:
Fire plays a natural role in the ecology of forests and rangelands. Homes located on the fringes of these areas are in danger of wildfires. To reduce the risk of fire destruction, take steps to handscape the grounds properly and fireproof all buildings. Before hiking in the back country, contact the public agency that manages the area for tips on fire survival.
You can help prevent fires when you are in the wild areas by learning and then teaching fire safety practices to your family. If you must build a fire in the wild, build it well away from trees and bushes. Never leave a fire unattended. Even a burning cigarette, left unattended, can start a fire in the outdoors.
If you are caught out in the open in a fire:
- The best temporary shelter is in a sparse fuel area.
- When in an automobile, move it to the barest possible ground. Close all windows and doors. Lie on the floor and cover yourself with a jacket or blanket.
- If a road is nearby, lie face down along the road cut or the ditch on the uphill side. Cover yourself with anything that will shield you from the fire's heat.
- When hiking in the back country, seek a depression with sparse fuel. Clear fuel from the area while the fire is approaching and then lie face down in the depression and cover yourself.
- On a mountaintop, the back side is safer.