Fire Emergency Preparedness: Make a Plan

“Stop, Drop, and Roll” is probably the one thing we remember firefighters telling us as children when discussing fire safety. Although this is a great tip, it’s essential to know that the leading cause of death in any fire is asphyxiation.

This means you can die from a lack of oxygen before the fire could even reach you. This is why fire emergency preparedness is so important. 

Related: How to Handle Burns in an Emergency

Fire Emergency Preparedness

Depending on where you live, there are two types of fires you should prepare for: a home fire and a wildfire. Below, you will learn how to prepare for both before they happen and what to do when they happen. I’ve provided some updated information from when I first wrote this post a couple of years ago.

Home Fire Emergency Preparedness

Home fires are the 5th leading unintentional cause of death and injury in the United States. It is also ranked as the 1st cause of death in children under the age of 15. Most home fires occur when people are sleeping or are less likely to be alert.

This is why it’s important to be prepared for a fire before it happens. You can create a family disaster plan that includes specific details related to fires and what to do in case of an emergency. Your disaster plan should include the following:

Install Smoke Alarms

If you don’t already have smoke alarms in place, they should be installed outside each sleeping area. Smoke alarms cut your chances of dying in half. They are a code requirement in most areas, but older homes may not have them. In Utah, we have been asked to purchase Carbon Monoxide, Natural Gas, and Propane detectors.

You may wonder why we have experienced several fires/explosions due to faulty natural gas lines in our streets. They are antiquated and must be replaced before we see any more deaths. Period. Carbon Monoxide/Natural Gas/Propane Detectors.

Note that in newer homes, smoke alarms are often connected in series, so when one alarm sounds, others are triggered to sound as well. If you install them now, it may be difficult to wire them in a series, so they would be independent and probably sound the alarm in the location that registered the smoke first. For proper installation, consider hiring an electrician.

Plan Escape Routes

Because most people die due to asphyxiation, it’s important to have two escape routes in place for each room of the house. Heavy, dark smoke can cause disorientation, especially if a route is blocked. 

Purchase Escape Ladders

If you sleep in an upstairs bedroom, or your children do, it is important to have escape ladders. If your main escape route (your stairs) is blocked by smoke or fire, your only option is to escape through the windows. How can you do that if the drop is more dangerous than the fire?! Depending on your house, you may need a 13-foot fire escape ladder or possibly a 25-foot fire escape ladder

Not only should you purchase these ladders, but you also need to practice using them. You won’t have time to learn how to use a ladder in the few minutes it may take for a fire to spread through your house. Practice ahead of time; you won’t regret it. 

Windows Need to Be Easy to Open

It may be necessary, depending on your location, to install burglar bars or locks to prevent unauthorized entry through windows. However, you need to make sure these bars or locks are easy to open from the inside. If you need a key to open them, keep a key inside next to each window. Be sure everyone knows where the keys are and how to use them.

You could also get quick-release devices for security bars. Keep in mind that these bars and locks also prevent firefighters from entering to rescue you. You’ll have to decide on the risk-reward balance for this approach to home protection and safety.

Make sure windows can be opened. Older homes may have windows that haven’t been opened in a long time. They also might have been given a coat or two of paint that makes opening them difficult. Test all your windows now to ensure you and your children can open them easily.

If they are that old, you may want to consider an upgrade. Such a move not only improves fire safety, but newer windows are generally better insulated, thus saving you on heating and air conditioning costs that can help recoup the purchase and installation expense over time.

Set a Meeting Place

Most of the time, it is impossible for everyone to get out at the same time in the same area of the house. Make sure everyone in your home knows where to meet once they have escaped.

It needs to be a safe distance from the heat, smoke, and flames, such as across the street at a tree or a neighbor’s home. This helps you to know if anyone is still trapped inside. Families with older children should have a signal in place to let parents know when they arrive home at night. If the parents don’t know who is home, it could prove to be fatal for a family member.

Do Fire Drills

This may seem like something you don’t need, but it saves lives, especially for kids. Make sure you practice escaping a fire using both escape routes. This way, there is less thinking going on if/when a fire actually happens. During the fire drill, you should also:

• Practice alerting everyone to a fire by yelling “FIRE” several times. 
• Crawl low to escape from your bedroom as if you are crawling under smoke. Since heat rises, it helps keep us safer from the heat of the fire. 
• Do a drill while blindfolded, because in a real fire, you most likely won’t be able to see. 
• Teach your family members to get themselves out safely first. Even one person getting out could save everyone else because they can call 911 and get help. They can also explain to the firefighters the layout of the home and who usually occupies which rooms. 
• Practice getting out both during the daytime and at nighttime so you are prepared for both. 
• Discuss fire emergency preparedness with your family!

What to Tell Children

In addition to creating the fire emergency preparedness plan above, it is important to drill some important information into your child’s head.

Children are the ones who die most frequently in house fires; therefore, it is important to discuss fire safety with them. Here are some things you should discuss and practice with them:

• Discuss when to use the Stop, Drop, and Roll technique. 
• Ensure children understand that matches and lighters are intended for adults only. 
• Tell your children to scream “Fire” when they see a fire starting in their home, or hear a fire alarm. 
• Drill into your child to NEVER hide from a fire. Make sure they know to get out!
• Make sure they know not to try and find anything to take with them. Their goal is to get out!
• Tell them to use their second way out if their escape route is filled with smoke.
• Practice crawling low (under the smoke) with your children.
• Show them how to feel the door before opening a closed door. The back of the hand is more sensitive to heat. 
• If they can’t escape using either of their escape routes, instruct them to stay in a room with the door closed and the window open, with a sheet hanging out. This will inform firefighters of their location. 
• Ensure they are aware of the meeting location. 
• Teach them that once they are out, to STAY OUT! Many children worry about family or pets, but they need to know that they must stay out of the house once they are safely outside. A firefighter will do the rest. 

How to Prevent House Fires

Many house fires are preventable. If you follow these tips, you may never have to worry about a fire: 

• Don’t smoke in bed. You may get drowsy or fall asleep and drop the cigarette, pipe, or cigar in the bed. Also, many of us take medications right before we go to bed. This may cause you not to think clearly.
• If you are a smoker, use deep, sturdy ashtrays. Douse cigarettes with water before disposal.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children. 
• Clean your home heating source and ensure it is functioning properly. You want to especially make sure chimneys are clean. This should be an annual tradition before the cold weather arrives.
• Use portable heaters only in well-ventilated rooms. Plug them into the wall socket only, without using long extension cords or overloaded surge protectors.
• Do not use kerosene heaters unless absolutely necessary. 
• Get your chimneys and wood stoves inspected annually. 
• Keep your stove area clean and clear of all combustible materials. 
• Be sure to inspect the electrical wiring in your home, particularly if you’ve been experiencing unexpected circuit trips.
• Avoid overloading your outlets or extension cords.
• Clean dryer vents and hoses.
• Follow careful cooking habits, especially when using oils or deep fryers. Keep the kitchen free of combustible materials and clutter that could catch fire.
• Keep your BBQ a safe distance from the home. If on the patio, ensure it isn’t under a ceiling made of combustible materials in case the BBQ flares up with higher-than-usual flames. Keep extra propane tanks a safe distance from the BBQ.
• Don’t store flammable liquids in your home or a shed next to your home.
• Have a few fire extinguishers located in key areas of the home, such as the kitchen, laundry room, and garage. Learn how to use them, and understand that some are designed for chemical fires, while others are for wood and other flammable materials.
• Never store combustibles in your furnace room, and keep anything flammable out of that area. This room, along with laundry rooms, should be as clutter-free as possible.
• Order a few Fire Extinguishers
• Be sure to have some Fire Blankets
• Carbon Monoxide/Natural Gas/Propane Detector

What to do During a Home Fire

If a fire does happen, your best course of action is to follow the plan you set in place. Get out as quickly as possible and call 911. If you have a fire extinguisher, be sure to know how to use it. If the fire doesn’t immediately die down using the extinguisher, get out of the house and call 911 again.

As you exit, be sure to close the doors behind you, as this prevents the spread of fire. 

What to do After a Home Fire

After a fire, you may be shaken, but there may still be work to do. Once you have safely exited the home, call 911 to make sure emergency personnel are on the way.

Once you have called 911, check to see if anyone needs first aid, such as covering burns or applying pressure to a wound. Stay out of the home until fire authorities say it is safe to re-enter.

When you are able to re-enter the home, you must discard food that has been exposed to heat, smoke, or soot. 

Do not discard damaged goods until inventory has been taken! In fact, as part of your plan, you should take a video inventory of every room in your house. It is very difficult to remember what is located/stored in each room after the fact. You will want to contact your insurance agent. Your insurance company should be able to offer you immediate assistance with any claims processing steps, including temporary housing if necessary. 

Wildfires: Fire Emergency Preparedness

More than 72,000 communities in the United States are at risk of wildfires. Every year, wildfires spread across the U.S., damaging land and homes. Living in an area where wildfires are a risk means you need to be prepared for them. 

How to Prevent a Wildfire

As Smokey the Bear says, “Only YOU can prevent wildfires.” Most wildfires are started by carelessness. You can prevent wildfires by:

• Never play with lighters or matches.
• Always watching your campfire.
• Ensure your campfire is completely extinguished before leaving the area.
• Only starting a campfire in an appropriate fire pit.
• Not starting a fire on a windy day.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Only burning yard waste or rubbish in a 50-gallon drum or fire pit if authorized in your community.
• Having water or a hose handy in case the fire gets out of control.
• Not spilling gas or motor oil on vegetation. 

Things You Can Do to Protect Your Home

Wildfires aren’t always preventable, but we can help contain them. Here are some things you can do to protect your home from a wildfire: 

• To prevent embers from igniting your home, clear leaves and other debris from gutters, eaves, porches, and decks. 
• Remove dead vegetation and debris found under your deck or porch and at least 10 feet out from your house. 
• To prevent debris and combustible items from accumulating, box in patios and decks with wire mesh. 
• Get rid of firewood stacks and propane tanks that are within 30 feet of your home’s foundation and buildings around your house. 
• Prune your trees so the lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet from the ground. 
• Make sure your lawn is hydrated. If your grass is brown and dry, cut it down to reduce the fire intensity. 
• Dispose of debris and lawn cuttings promptly, as they can act as fuel for the fire. 
• Cover attic vents with metal wire to prevent sparks from entering your home.
• Check your shingles and replace torn ones.
• If your home is located in a very rural area, consider installing fire-retardant roofing material, such as tile, rather than wood or asphalt shingles. That also goes for siding. Look for materials that are less susceptible to combustion. 

The more you can do to prevent the spread of fire on your property, the more likely it is for the wildfire to begin to die out. However, even with these precautions, it isn’t always possible to stop the wildfire. In many cases, you will need to evacuate your home. 

Create an Emergency Evacuation Plan

If you live in an area where wildfires are prevalent, you should always have an emergency evacuation plan that includes the following:

• Plan two routes out of your neighborhood. This way, if one area is affected by the wildfire, you have an alternative route. 
• Designate a meeting place for you and your family members. 
• Ensure that everyone in your home knows where to go and how to get there in the event of an evacuation order. 
• Gather emergency supplies and place them in a safe spot. Include your important documents, emergency binder, medications, and first aid kit. 

What to Do During a Wildfire

When there is a wildfire in your area, you may not need to immediately evacuate. However, you should stay updated by watching and/or listening to your local media and news sources. You also want to get your family and home ready for a possible evacuation. 

• Get extra clothing, blankets, and supplies packed in your vehicle. 
• Place your emergency supply kit and other valuables in your vehicle. 
• Do the above things to protect your home. 
• Connect a garden hose and fill your pools, hot tubs, garbage cans, tubs, and other large containers with water. 
• Once you have been told to evacuate, DO NOT LINGER! Leave as early as possible, before you are told to evacuate, if you can. 
• You’ll always want to make sure your vehicles are at least half full of gas or electrical power so you can evacuate without worrying about fuel to get you where you need to go.

What to Do After a Wildfire Has Been Contained

Once a wildfire has been contained, continue to listen to updates from local media stations. Only return home when authorities say it is safe to do so!

FROM MATT:

I’m going to add one thing after the home fire. It doesn’t matter if you were home or not. Start contacting people you know, such as family and close friends, and let them know you’re okay. That way, first responders aren’t looking for you.
If you lose your phone, have a neighbor call for you or something, just anything. There’s no point in firefighters going into a shaky structure looking for bodies on a second pass if it’s not needed, or the cops trying to locate you, tying up resources.

Final Word

Both house fires and wildfires can be deadly. Fires can start and spread in a matter of minutes. Whether you live in an area prone to wildfires or not, it is essential to be prepared for a house fire. Ensure that you and your family are prepared with an evacuation plan, allowing you to exit your home safely. 

For fire emergency preparedness, it is essential to have a plan. Do you have your fire emergency preparedness plan in place? If not, this post should get you off to a great start. Share what your plan is in the comments below so others can get ideas. May God bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: House roof on fire Depositphotos_33888167_S, Flames on burning house Depositphotos_383481650_S, Forest Fire Depositphotos_18327853_S