Home fires are not that uncommon. Every once in a while, you can tune into the news and see it happen to some unfortunate family. And while you might think, "this could never be us,” the reality is that home fires can happen to anyone. And when they do, they happen fast, and in those moments, there is no time to figure things out. You need to have a plan.
At Restore-It, we meet families once the fire trucks have left. We have seen what goes wrong when there is no plan. Not only can having a plan ensure your family's safety, but it can also ease the insurance claim process.
In this article, you will learn how to build your own fire prevention and escape plan: how to map two exits from every room, pick a meeting spot, assign roles, practice getting out, protect your documents with a digital "go-bag," and keep smoke alarms, CO detectors, and fire extinguishers in good shape.
Step 1: Map Your Home and Plan Two Ways Out
- Start with a simple drawing of your home. You do not need special software. A scrap of paper is enough. The goal is to help everyone, especially kids, see the plan.
- Draw each floor. Show bedrooms, hallways, doors, windows, and stairs. Then, in every sleeping room, pick two ways out:
- The main exit is usually the bedroom door into the hall
- The second exit is typically a window that can open easily
- Make exit plans for upper floors. Think about how someone would get down if the hallway is full of smoke.
- Make sure nothing blocks the emergency exit windows. Move beds, dressers, or boxes to avoid blocking the designated exit.
- Explain it might be dark and full of smoke. Your family needs to know they may need to crawl. Knowing your exits ahead of time can keep you moving in the right direction even when you cannot see well.
Step 2: Choose One Clear Meeting Place Outside
"Go outside" is not enough of an indication during a fire. In the stress of an incident, someone may rush out of different doors or even go somewhere alone. That can lead to one of the most dangerous mistakes: going back inside to look for someone who is already safe.
Pick one safe, easy-to-describe meeting place a short distance from your home, such as:
- A large tree in the front yard
- A neighbor’s mailbox
- A streetlight or a stop sign at the corner
Teach everyone this rule:
- If there is a fire, get out and go straight to the meeting place. Stay there. Wait and do not go back inside for any reason.
At the meeting spot, you can quickly see who made it out and tell the firefighters if anyone is still inside and where they are sleeping. That information can save valuable seconds for the crews coming to help you.
Step 3: Assign Simple Roles Before an Emergency
In an emergency, it is easy for everyone to assume someone else is doing the important tasks. A basic role list can prevent that. Keep it simple and write it down next to your escape map.
Consider assigning:
- The 911 caller. One adult is responsible for calling 911 from outside at the meeting place. Choose a backup person in case that adult is not home.
- Helpers for those who need extra assistance. Decide who will help young children, older family members, or anyone with mobility or medical issues. If you have more than one person who needs help, match each person with a specific adult.
- Pet plan
Pets are part of the family, but searching for a hiding cat or dog in heavy smoke can be deadly. Keep leashes or carriers near exits. If you can safely grab pets on the way out, do it. If not, leave doors open when you can and tell firefighters where pets usually sleep or hide.
The main goal is for everyone to know their first job in those first seconds after the alarm sounds.
Step 4: Practice "Get Low and Go"
A house fire is a stressful scenario. The only way your safety plan will carry out as expected is with practice. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends practicing your home escape plan at least twice a year. A simple drill looks like this:
- Start in the bedrooms
Have everyone begin in or near their beds, as if it is the middle of the night. - Test the alarm
Press the test button on a smoke alarm. Let children hear what it sounds like. - Get low
Everyone rolls or drops to the floor and crawls toward the primary exit, staying low where the air would be cleaner if there were smoke. - Check the door
Feel the door with the back of your hand first. If it feels cool, open it slowly while staying low. If it feels hot, use your backup route, such as a window. - Go to the meeting place
Once outside, go straight to your meeting spot and count heads.
Make this practice short and calm. With younger kids, you can turn it into a game or race to see who gets to the meeting place first while still following the rules. The goal is to build muscle memory, not fear.
Step 5: Create a Digital "Go-Bag" for Your Documents
The first thing that comes to mind when dealing with a home fire is the safety of your loved ones. However, once the flames are out, you have to deal with your insurer, and that means paperwork. Lots of paperwork. A fire can destroy documents that prove who you are and what you own. Here is how you can avoid this risk:
- Scan or photograph key documents. Take clear photos of driver’s licenses, passports, insurance policies, mortgage or lease papers, and other vital records.
- Make a quick home inventory. Record a video walking through your home. Open closets and cabinets. Mention big items out loud: TVs, tools, furniture, appliances, electronics.
- Store copies safely. Save these files in a secure cloud account or another off-site location. Do not keep the only copy on a laptop that could burn in a fire.
This can help you when you need to file an insurance claim. A simple inventory and document backup can speed up and improve the accuracy of the process.
Step 6: Check Your Alarms and Extinguishers
None of this planning helps if you do not get early warning. Take a few minutes to inspect your defense systems:
- Smoke alarms. You should have alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Test them once a month. Replace batteries as needed, and replace the whole alarm at least every 10 years.
- Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. If you have fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or an attached garage, you need CO detectors on every level, especially near bedrooms. CO is colorless and odorless, so alarms are the only way to detect it early.
- Fire extinguishers. Keep at least one multi-purpose (ABC) fire extinguisher in the kitchen and another in the garage or workshop. Learn the PASS method (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep). Only use an extinguisher on small, contained fires when you already have a clear path out, and someone has called 911.
Set a reminder on your calendar to check alarms and extinguisher gauges a few times a year so they are ready when you need them most.
Next Steps for Your Home Fire Escape Plan
So, there we have it. Now you know that making a home fire prevention plan is not difficult and is a great tool to protect your family and important documents for your insurance claim. We hope that the worry you felt about "what would we do if there was a fire?" has turned into confidence. Your next step is to check our blog and learn more about fire damage recovery, insurance claims, and home safety so you can keep improving your family's plan.
If you have experienced a fire and need help starting the recovery process, call Restore-It for 24/7 professional fire and smoke damage restoration services. Our team is ready to help you get your home back to normal and restore your peace of mind.
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