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Apartment Fire Safety

If You Discover Fire
  • Leave the area of danger
  • Close all doors in your path of exit
  • Sound the Fire Alarm
  • Phone 911 when you are out of danger
  • Use the stairwell only, never use the elevator
If You Hear the Fire Alarm
  • Turn off all appliances
  • Feel the door before opening it
  • If the door is hot stay inside and call 911 for help
  • If the door is not hot, leave the building through the nearest exit stairwell, closing all doors behind you
Common Sense
  • Activate the fire alarm before trying to extinguish the fire.
  • Once the fire alarm system has been activated and 911 has been called, you may want to attempt to control the fire. Remember, use common sense! No property or possession is worth your life.
  • A typical fire extinguisher in your building will last approximately eight to 10 seconds. If the fire cannot be controlled with this extinguisher, it is too big for you attempt to handle. Vacate immediately.
  • Do not put burning materials such as cigarettes and ashes into the garbage chute.
  • Avoid smoking in bed or your favorite recliner as many sleepy smokers have started fires this way. Place smoke alarms above these areas for added safety.
Know Your Building
  • You should know where your exits are and your nearest fire alarm pull station. Familiarization saves time.
  • Be sure to know two ways out of your building in the event one is blocked by fire or smoke.
  • Make a simple floor plan of both exits and practice using both ways out. Pace off the distance to the exits. In the event of an emergency things may be dark, so be sure you can follow your escape plan under these conditions.
  • Familiarize yourself with the outside area and pick a meeting spot that everyone is familiar with.
  • Practice with your family.
Building Safety Features

Fire Alarm System
  • Your apartment has a fire alarm system and will activate in one of several ways:
  • Pulling or activating the fire alarm pull-station, generally located near exits.
  • A Smoke Detector or Heat Detector going off which activates the fire alarm system. These devices are located in storage rooms, hallways, stairwells, laundry rooms, service rooms etc.
Exit Doors
  • Exit doors leading to stairwells should to be kept closed at all times except when they are in use for your protection. The stairwell is designed as a safe place of refuge. When you leave your room and enter the stairwell you should be able to exit outside safely.
  • If these doors are propped open and something happens in a room or corridor, the smoke and heat have an avenue into the stairwell. For the safety of all, keep these doors closed to maintain the integrity of the fire separations allowing you a safe exit if you need it.
Access To Exits
  • Be sure to keep all access to exits and stairwells free of storage at all times. Not only does storage make it difficult to exit the stairwell, it is also a fire hazard in itself.
Fire Extinguishers
  • You should have 2A-10BC Dry Chemical Extinguishers located on every floor of your apartment building. (See Fire Extinguishers for more information)
Smoke Alarms
  • There should be at least one smoke alarm in your suite provided by the landlord. (See Smoke Detectors for more information)
  • If there are problems within your building bring them to the landlord or owner for corrective action. If issues are not being addressed, contact the Fire Prevention Bureau in your area.
  • Life safety is everyone's business. Be fire safety conscious!
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