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If a Fire Should Break Out
Home » Outdoor Furniture » Fireplace Safety » If a Fire Should Break OutIf you have a contained fire in the chimney, immediately close off the damper. If you can safely extinguish the fire, use a chimney type fire extinguisher and put the fire out immediately.
If a fire should break out in your fireplace, flames and smoke will spread rapidly. You must vacate the house immediately and then call the fire department. Never stay inside of your home to call for help. This can be done from your cell phone or a neighbor’s phone.
Be prepared in case of a fire by establishing a fire escape plan with the entire family. Children should be taught fire safety and you should practice an escape plan with them often.
• Smoke and fumes will overcome you before flames so stay low to the ground. Get down and crawl under the smoke. Teach children to do this as well.
• Teach your family to stop, drop, and roll. If your clothing should catch fire you should stop, drop to the floor, cover your face and roll over and over until the fire goes out.
• Establish an escape route. Know the way out of every room.
• Close all doors behind you as you leave a room.
• If anyone is unable to get out of a room they should lie on the floor and call out their name over and over.
• If you have a two-story home you should have a chain ladder to escape the second level windows, if needed.
• Do not worry about trying to gather personal possessions. These items are not worth losing your life over.
• Plan a meeting spot outside of your home.
• Once out of the home everyone should stay together and stay outside of the home. Never go back into the home.
• Assign someone to be responsible for calling 911.
• Practice your fire drills often. You should practice in the daytime as well as at night.
• Have an alternate escape route planned. Practice going out through the doors and windows.
• Be sure that children have a clear understanding of what to do in case of a fire.
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