Would you know what to do if there was a fire in your apartment building? It's important to have an emergency plan before a fire happens.
If your building fire alarm sounds
If your building fire alarm goes off, you may choose to leave the building or shelter in place if you are physically unable to leave.
Leave the building
If you choose to evacuate the building when the fire alarm sounds, be sure to:
- Check your unit door before leaving. Use the back of your hand to touch the top of the door and around the door handle. If it feels warm, do not leave and instead shelter in place
- Open your door slightly if it is cool to check the hallway for smoke. If you see smoke, do not leave and instead shelter in place
- Exit your unit and close the door behind you if the hallway is clear of smoke
- Always use stairwells, never elevators
- Always check doors for heat and hallways for smoke and use another exit if necessary
Shelter in place
If you choose to shelter in place when the fire alarm sounds in your building, be sure to:
- Keep your unit door closed but unlocked for firefighters to enter if necessary
- Seal the door completely with duct tape and place a wet towel across the bottom to prevent smoke from entering your unit
- Call 9-1-1 and tell them your location and situation
- Have something to wave out a window or balcony to show firefighters your location, like a towel or blanket
If there's a fire in your unit
If a fire starts in your unit:
- Remain calm and exit your unit, closing the door behind you
- Activate the closest fire alarm, which should be located by the exit stairs
- Leave the building using the stairwell, not the elevator
Preventing apartment fires
The most common causes of apartment fires in Burlington are cooking and smoking. These types of fires are avoidable by practicing some safe habits.
Cooking fire safety tips
To avoid kitchen fires, always:
- Keep things that can catch fire like oven mitts, towels or food packaging away from your stovetop
- Stay in the kitchen when cooking
- Turn off the stove and removing pots and pans if you need to answer the door or phone
Smoking fire safety tips
To avoid fires due to cigarettes or cigarette butts, be sure to:
- Keep your balcony clear of debris
- Never butt out in potted plants, use a deep ashtray instead
- Never throw cigarettes off your balcony
- Smoke outside instead of indoors