It’s important to have a plan of action in case of a house fire. There are many things to keep in mind, but the most important is to stay calm.  If you ever find yourself in this situation, follow these steps to exit safely. 

 Immediate Steps to Take

  1. Get the fire extinguisher. When you first sense a possible fire by smelling smoke or hearing a fire alarm, grab the fire extinguisher before examining the area. By doing so, you could extinguish the fire quickly before it gets out of control. If you arrive to the area and the fire has grown so large to the point where the fire extinguisher isn’t helpful, run from the area. Every home needs a fire extinguisher. If your home does not have one, purchase one immediately. Brewer’s True Value off Jungermann offers a wide variety of fire extinguishers such as kitchen, chimney, rechargeable, and more. Shop them here and have it ready for pick up.
  2. Alert others. If you are the first to learn there is a fire in your home, don’t rely on the fire alarms to alert others in the home. Scream, yell, run and tell. Make sure everyone in the home knows of the fire so they can take the necessary steps to stay safe.
  3. Call 911. If you have a phone with you, call them immediately. Don’t waste time in your home trying to find a phone. Instead, run to your neighbor’s house and use their phone. 
  4. Leave valuables behind. Your safety and the safety of your family/friends are much more important than objects. Once the fire department arrives, you can describe the valuables to them and see if they are able to find them. 
  5. Check doorknobs. Before entering a room, check the doorknob. If it is warm, that means the fire has spread to that room.
  6. Stop, Drop, and Roll. Crawl and stay close to the ground as you move around the home to keep away from the high temperatures. If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, and roll.
  7. Cover your nose. Prevent smoke from entering your lungs by covering your nose with your shirt or a damp towel. If you have young children with you, be sure to cover their noses as well.
  8. Keep doors closed. Once you exit a room, close the door behind you. This will help contain the fire from spreading and keep other spaces clear of smoke. 
  9. Rest. Once you’ve escaped the home, take a moment to catch your breath. Make sure those around you are safe. Keep a safe distance away from your home and give yourself a moment to calm down. Once you’ve calmed, check yourself and others involved to see if anyone is injured. 

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House fires are dangerous and frightening. The most important thing is that everyone involved exits the home successfully and remains safe. Reclaim Services is here to help you put the pieces back together so you can return to your normal life. We recognize you’ve been through a traumatic experience, and we want to help ease the blow. We’re experienced in repairing homes after fire damage, so give us a call if you ever find yourself in this situation. We provide emergency tarp and structure repair, structure and content cleaning as well as pack-out and storage services. Contact us today!
Sources: Lifehack.org