House fires kill approximately 2,600 people annually in the US and cause over $8 billion in property damage. You may have as little as 2-3 minutes to escape a fire after the smoke alarm sounds.
10 steps across 1 sections
1. Steps Process
- Draw a floor plan — Sketch each level of your home showing all rooms, doors, windows, hallways, and stairways. This is the foundation of your escape plan.
- Identify two exits from every room — Each room needs two escape routes, typically a door and a window. Check that all windows open easily, screens can be removed quickly, and security bars have qui...
- Purchase escape ladders for upper floors — For second-story and higher rooms, buy UL-listed escape ladders. Store them near windows. Practice deploying them (while the ladder is on the ground floor...
- Install smoke alarms — Place on every level, inside each bedroom, and outside sleeping areas. Use interconnected alarms so when one sounds, they all sound. Test monthly by pressing the test button....
- Choose an outdoor meeting point — Select a specific, easy-to-identify location at least 50 feet from the house (mailbox, specific tree, neighbor's driveway). Every family member must know this loca...
- Assign responsibilities — Designate who helps young children, elderly, and people with disabilities. Young children under 6 usually cannot escape alone; assign an adult to each child.
- Teach key fire safety behaviors — Feel doors before opening (hot door = fire on the other side). Crawl low under smoke. Close doors behind you to slow fire spread. Stop, drop, and roll if clothing ...
- Practice daytime drills — Walk through both exit routes from each room. Time the drill. Everyone should be outside and at the meeting point within 2 minutes.
- Practice nighttime drills — Most fatal fires occur at night. Practice with lights off. Start the drill by activating the smoke alarm so children recognize the sound.
- Call 911 from outside — After everyone is at the meeting point, call 911 from a cell phone or neighbor's house. Never call from inside a burning building.
Common Mistakes
- Only having one exit plan
- Never practicing
- Children hiding during fires
- Going back inside
- Dead smoke alarm batteries
Pro Tips
- Use a real smoke alarm sound (not just yelling "fire") to start drills so chi...
- Install 10-year sealed lithium battery smoke alarms to avoid annual battery c...
- Teach children your home address so they can tell 911 dispatchers
- Close bedroom doors at night — a closed door can hold back fire and toxic smo...
- For family members with mobility limitations, contact your local fire departm...