Q&A for How to Escape from a Fire

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How many smoke detectors and where should I install them in our home?

David Decker
Firefighting Expert
David Decker is a Firefighting Expert based in Newark, Ohio. Assistant Chief Decker was a career firefighter for 32+ years at Newark Fire Department and served as an Assistant Chief for 14 years. As Assistant Chief, he was in charge of department operations and training. He is now the owner of Command Vision, a fire training company focusing on incident command. He also has a YouTube channel where he uploads dash-cam videos captured at fire scenes that serve as training material for fire officers who want to expand their knowledge. The channel features over 40 structure fire videos and has garnered 55k followers and more than 15 million views.

David Decker

Firefighting Expert

Expert Answer

You can install one smoke detector in each bedroom and one on each floor, such as in the hallways of the first and second floors. This ensures early notification in case of a fire, providing ample time to evacuate safely.

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Question

What happens if there is no window to get out of?

Community Answer

If you are stuck in a room with no window and no other available exits, call emergency services. Give them your exact location. If you don't have a phone handy, yell for help as loudly as possible. Firefighters and other emergency personnel will arrive soon, so do your best to be loud and let them know you're still in the building.

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Question

Should I shut a door when exiting a house that's on fire?

Community Answer

Yes, shutting the door slows the spread of the fire by creating another barriers/object the fire has to get through.

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If you need to open a window to get out, will it cause a backdraft?

Community Answer

You should do your best to close any doors and windows behind you as you escape to help stop fueling the fire. Your safety comes first, so never hesitate to open a window in order to escape. If you can easily close it behind you, do so, but don't waste time if it's not easy to close. It's important to get away from the building in order to avoid debris, smoke, and other potential hazards.

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How do I escape from a fire if there's also a tornado?

Community Answer

You should be more careful in your shelter! Keep a fire extinguisher handy and try to put out the flames. If the fire is out of control, it is the more pressing danger to you so you must leave the shelter and try to find other shelter from the tornado.

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What should I do if I live in an apartment and there is a fire?

Community Answer

Make sure you know where the fire is. If it is below you then find out the room or hallway that it is in. Stay as far away as possible. If the building has a fire escape then use that as your escape, if not then get to the nearest stairwell and use those.

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Is it okay to run through a wall of fire if it's not too thick?

Community Answer

No, it isn't a good idea, you will still end up getting burnt! However, there are some situations where you may have no other choice.

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Question

What if there's a window but it won't open fully?

Community Answer

Break the window and escape, but you need to get out quick, because the burst of fresh air will add oxygen to the fire.

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How do I identify whether smoke is real or not?

Community Answer

Fire smoke is gray or black, while fake smoke can be white. If you see gray or black smoke, use these steps to get out safely.

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Question

How should someone who is by themselves and surrounded on all sides by the fire escape from it?

Community Answer

You will probably have no other choice but to run as quickly as possible through the thinnest section of the fire.

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Question

Why can't we use elevators during a fire event?

aurelia varner

Community Answer

If you use the elevator and the electricity goes out, then you will be trapped in that elevator and you will asphyxiate of smoke inhalation. So, that's why it's critically important that you don't use the elevator during a fire.

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Question

What you do before leaving the room and why?

aurelia varner

Community Answer

Check the door to see if it is hot with the back of your hand because if it is hot there's a 97% chance there's a fire right on the other side. But if it's not hot, then you're going to be fine and also make sure you crawl on the ground to get better air, as the smoke is higher up. And the higher you are, the thicker the smoke is going to be because heat rises to the top.

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Question

What should I do if I can smell smoke that I can't see even when there is nothing blocking my sight?

Community Answer

It’s best to still leave or investigate where the smell is coming from, and if you notice there are more signs that there is a fire, then follow the steps above to get to safety.

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Question

What do you do if you're stuck in a basement fire like I was?

Upnorth Here

Top Answerer

To escape, you try to find the required "second exit", if it is a habitable space. It might be a second door/stairway/window. If it is storage space, you should only be in there when you have a plan for escaping the same way you entered.

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Question

Is it sufficient to have smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher but no windows?

Aasim

Top Answerer

Depending on the fire codes, you may not be able to have no windows in bedrooms or offices. For example, basement bedrooms in New York are required to have a window to provide a means of escape from a fire.

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