High Rise FIre Safety

Fire safety begins with you

 

Learn what to do if a fire happens in your building.  This is the best way to protect yourself and those around you.  Every fire is different.  You must act quickly when you hear the alarm or discover a fire.  You must always protect yourself from smoke.  Remember, most people die from smoke, hot fire. Here is what to do.

 

IF THERE IS A FIRE IN YOUR APARTMENT

Tell everyone in your apartment to leave.

Close all doors behind you.

Pull the fire alarm on your floor and yell fire.

Leave the building using the nearest stairway.

Call Central York Fire Services when you are safe. 

Dial  9-1-1.  (What is your address?)

Meet the firefighters at the front entrance and tell them where the fire is.

 

IF YOU HEAR THE FIRE ALARM:

To go or to stay…..the decision is yours.

 

Most of the time, the best thing to do in a fire is leave the building as soon as possible.  But in some cases you may not be able to leave and you may have to stay in your apartment.  In either case you must act quickly.  No matter what your decision you must protect yourself from the smoke.

IF YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE THE BUILDING

 

Check the door to your apartment.  If smoke is entering from around the door, do not open it.  Protect yourself from smoke inside your apartment as described later in this section.

 

If there is not smoke, brace yourself and open the door a little.

·       If you see smoke or feel heat, close the door quickly and protect yourself.

·       If the corridor is clear, take your keys, lock your door, and go to the nearest stairway.

 

DO NOT USE THE ELEVATOR

 

Open the nearest stairway door carefully.

·       If there is no smoke, use the stairway to leave the building.

·       If there is smoke, do not enter.  Close the door.  Go to another stairway and open the door carefully.

·       If there is no smoke here, use this stairway to leave the building.

·       If there is smoke, do not enter.  If there are other stairways, try them.  If there are not, return to your apartment and protect yourself from smoke.

 

WHEN YOU ARE INSIDE THE STAIRWAY

 

If you find smoke on your way down the stairs, leave that stairway as soon as you can.

·       Use another stairway if it is clear of smoke.

If you can't use any stairway, return to your apartment if you can, or go into any corridor and bang of apartment doors until you find a place to take shelter.

 

·       Never go to the roof.  Smoke usually rises to the top of the stairway.  Door opening onto the roof are locked and you could be trapped.

·       Remember, wherever you are, if there is smoke, crawl low under it.  The air is cleaner near the floor.

 

IF YOU REMAIN IN YOUR APARTMENT

 

You must protect yourself from smoke.  Stay in your apartment until you are rescued or until you are told to leave.  This may take a long time.  Do not try to leave your apartment a long time after the alarm has sounded.  The longer you wait, the more risk there is that heavy smoke will have spread into stairways and corridors.  Your chances of survival are less.

 

·       Keep smoke from entering your apartment.  Use duct tape to seal cracks around the door and place wet towels at the bottom.  Seal vents or air ducts and same way.

 

If Smoke Enters your Apartment:

 

·        Telephone Central York Fire Services - Dial 9-1-1, tell them where you are and then move to the balcony.  Close the doors behind you.

·        If you don't have a balcony, go to the most smoke-free room, close the door and seal it with tape and towels.  Open the window (few inches) for fresh air.

·       Show your rescuers where you are by hanging a sheet from the window or balcony.

·       Keep low to the floor where the air is cleaner.

·       Listen for instructions from authorities.

 

REMEMBER, FIRE SAFETY BEGINS WITH YOU

For more information, please call Central York Fire Services at 905-895-9222