Fire Safety

15 Steps to Escape Fire in Private Homes

1. If you hear the smoke alarm sound, roll off your bed onto the floor.
2. Crawl to the door and carefully feel it. If it is hot, do not open it (if it is cool, skip to step 8).
3. If the door is hot, seal the cracks with wet towels, blankets or clothes.
4. Crawl to a window. If it’s on the first floor and you can safely escape, do so.
5. If you can’t exit safely from the window, open it slightly at the bottom and wave a sheet or towel outside. Break a window only as a last resort! Don’t try to jump from the second floor unless it is a matter of life and death.
6. If there’s a phone in the room, call the fire department or 911.
7. Stay low at the window and breathe fresh air from the outside.
8. If your bedroom door is not hot, open it slightly and look for smoke or flames. Proceed with caution!
9. Leave the room on your knees, closing the door behind you.
10. If the path appears to be open, crawl along the fastest escape route (if time permits, put a wet cloth over your face and nose).
11. As you proceed, waken and alert others on the floor.
12. Don’t look for the fire and don’t take time to call 911.
13. Leave the house and go directly to your family’s predetermined meeting place.
14. Once you are outside, call the fire department—don’t assume they have been alerted by others.
15. Don’t go back in the house until the fire department gives the word.

Note: Every household should have a printed set of the full rules of escape as published by their fire department. These "15 steps" do not cover all you should know about escape from fire—they are merely a guideline.

Presented as a public service by Madison Mutual Insurance Company

Back to Consumer Tips