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Home Fire Escape Plans

Do you have a home fire escape plan?

Home fires can spread quickly, leaving you as little as two minutes to escape after a smoke alarm sounds. Infants, children, older adults, and people with disabilities may be at greater risk because of an inability to escape quickly on their own.

Many fire injuries and deaths occur when residents attempt to fight a home fire, when exits are not defined, or when they are blocked.

While the instinct to save your home and belongings is understandable, attempting to fight a fire is dangerous and could cost you your life. If you are not trained to use a fire extinguisher, the best plan is to get out quickly and call 911.

Preparing for a home fire means installing smoke alarms, having a home fire escape plan, and practicing the plan. Knowing what to do can help reduce the whole family's risk of injury or death in a fire. Below are tips on how to prepare to get you and your family out safely if there is a fire in your home.



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Let's Get Started! 

  • Draw a layout of your home, showing all the rooms, doors, windows, and any other exits.
  • Identify two ways out of every room, such as a door and a window.

  • Make sure there are working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level of the home.
  • Test smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries as needed.

  • Mark the exits on your floor plan and plan the quickest way to each one.
  • Make sure all windows and doors can be opened easily and are free of obstructions.​

  • Pick a spot outside your home where everyone will meet after escaping (e.g., a tree, mailbox, or neighbor’s house).
  • Ensure that the meeting place is far enough from the house to be safe but easy to reach.​

  • Ensure everyone in the household, including children, understands the escape routes and meeting place.
  • Teach everyone to stay low to avoid smoke, feel doors for heat before opening, and to close doors behind them to slow the spread of fire.​

  • Conduct fire drills at least twice a year, practicing different escape routes and scenarios.
  • Practice in the dark or with eyes closed to simulate escaping in smoke conditions.​

Resources



Consider Special Needs

  • Assign someone to assist family members with mobility challenges, small children, or pets during an emergency.
  • Make sure everyone knows how to call 911 from a safe location after exiting the house.

Don’t Go Back In

  • Remind everyone that once they are out of the home, they should stay out. Never re-enter the home during a fire.