FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION FOR THE HOUSE OWNER
Chapter Eight: Escape Plans
General
Once a fire has started, it spreads rapidly - you may have only seconds to get out. Normal exits from bedrooms may be blocked by smoke or fire and you may not be able to get to members of your family to help them. Therefore, it is important to plan two exits from every room in the house, and make sure that everyone knows exactly what to do in the event of a fire. Ensure that the planned escape routes are kept clear at all times. If you have any doors with double-cylinder locks, leave a key in the inside cylinder as long as anyone is home and the door is locked. Second-storey or attic windows may need a rope or chain ladder to enable occupants to escape safely. In addition, you should practice escaping before a real emergency strikes. Some Fire Departments refer to these rehearsals as "EDITH" (Exit Drills In The House). Appendix B provides instructions (with an example) for planning escape routes from your home.
Planning
Sit down with your family today and make a step-by-step plan for an emergency escape. An hour of planning may save years of life.
  • Make diagrams showing emergency escape routes.
  • Plan for at least two escape routes from each room in the house, in the event that fire should block one of them off.
  • Identify children's bedrooms with a red sticker placed in the upper left corner of the window. These are obtainable from some department or toy stores, or from your local Fire Department.
  • Make sure that children, seniors and the infirm can work all the windows, escape ladders, etc, that they may have to use in the event of a fire. Check window screens to ensure they can be removed easily from the inside.
  • Go over the entire escape route with your family and plan for a periodic fire drill.
  • Put your Fire Department's telephone number on, or near, each of your telephones, so that the number can be easily found in an emergency. A typical form is given in Figure 5. Stickers with your local emergency number can be obtained from your Fire Department.
  • Choose a safe place outdoors for everyone to meet for "roll call".
  • Make sure that it is understood by everyone that no-one is to go back inside a burning building for any reason.
  • Check your fire alarm and fire extinguishment system (if you have ˙one) and make improvements if it is not adequate. If you do not currently have a fire alarm and fire extinguishment system, decide upon the best system for your particular situation based on the recommendations in this booklet - then install it!
Emergency Lighting
When an alarm is activated due to a fire, it may be difficult to locate family members and the fire exit due to lack of visibility (either caused by smoke or darkness). It may be difficult to locate a light switch or, in more severe cases, the fire may have caused a power failure. In any case, it is often easy to become disoriented when woken from a sound sleep, or when a panic situation arises, so it is recommended that a method be used to automatically light your way or provide bearings during a fire.
Smoke detector escape light Many smoke detectors are equipped with a powerful built-in lamp that comes on when the detector is activated. In a self-contained unit, the lamp should be powered by its own 9V battery. The problem with this type of light is that it is more likely to lead you towards the source of the fire rather than away from it.
Remote escape light A battery-operated light is available that will "listen" for the siren of a ULC-approved smoke or heat detector without the need for interconnecting wiring. When the alarm siren is activated the light will come on. The light may then be seperated from the wall-mounting bracket and automatically locked on so that it may be carried with you to help find family members and the escape route.
Home control system Systems are available that will turn on and off any light in the house from one or more central control panels. There is usually a single button that will turn on all lights in the event of an emergency (such as fire or intrusion). These systems use control signals transmitted over normal house wiring. A control panel placed beside each bed will allow all lights to be activated when the occupants are woken by the sound of a fire alarm. Some home control systems may be connected to a personal computer terminal for added control.
System alarm lighting Some alarm systems may be able to turn on one or more lights automatically when the alarm is activated. Others have an interface that will allow them to be connected to a home control system that will turn on lights in various parts of the house using signals transmitted over the house wiring. Still others may be connected to a computer terminal used to control the lighting in your home.
Power failure light Lights are available that plug into a wall outlet and will automatically come on in the event of a power failure. When the power fails they are operated by internal batteries (usually rechargeable). Some such devices may be removed from the socket and used as a flashlight.
Location of lights Lights should be located in the primary escape routes, but particularly outside the bedroom areas or in hallways leading to the bedroom areas. They should be located in areas that may be dangerous to traverse in the dark (such as stairways). If possible, the lights should lead you away from the fire, not towards it.
Escape Equipment
In addition to emergency lighting, other equipment may be desirable to allow easy egress from the building in the case of fire. Often, a ladder is recommended for use in the secondary escape route.
Rope or chain ladders If you have planned an alternate escape ˙route through a window that is greater than 3m (10 feet) above the ground, a method of safe exit will be required. Escape ladders, specially designed for such emergencies, are available at a cost of around $30. These should hang securely over the window-sill and away from the wall when in use, and can be bundled up and stored under the bed or in some other easily accessible location. They come in various lengths for second and third floor escape.
The Fire Drill
It is recommended that a fire equipment inspection and a fire drill be held at least once every six months. Keep a record of when these are performed - see Figure 5.
The inspection Make sure that all planned escape routes are clear of clutter, and that all doors and windows in the escape path are not barred or obstructed, and are easily opened.
  • Check for potential hazardous situations per Chapter 3.
  • Check the operation of all fire alarms.
  • Check the pressure of all fire extinguishers, and ensure that they are not damaged in any way. Check the pressure of your sprinkler system, if you have one.
  • Check that all escape lights are in working order.
  • Check that escape ladders and other escape equipment are where they are supposed to be, are easily accessible in an emergency and are operational.
  • Ensure that all accesses to your property (roads, lanes, etc.) are clear for emergency vehicles. Refer to Chapter 11.
The drill This should involve every member of the household, and include the babysitter. Since closed doors hold back smoke and fire fighters are adept at rescue, the chances of survival are excellent if you do the right thing.
  • Have the participants read and understand what to do in the event of a fire (see Chapter 9).
  • Practice the STOP, DROP and ROLL technique. If an item of clothing you are wearing accidently catches fire, you will need to know how to smother the flames to prevent serious ˙injury. Don't run! STOP where you are, cross your arms in front of your chest, DROP to the floor or ground and ROLL around to ˙smother the flames.
  • Tell members of your household that you are going to conduct two tests. In the first, they must feel the exit door and ˙pretend it is cool to the touch - in the second, they must pretend the door is hot and impassible. The objective is to meet at the pre-arranged rendezvous outside.
  • Have them lay on the beds in their respective rooms with the doors closed.
  • If you have a smoke detector in the hallway outside the bedrooms, operate it by pressing the test button. If you do not have a smoke detector, use some other method to signal the first escape. If you like, start a stop-watch at this time.
  • The participants should ROLL out of bed, feel the bedroom door, pretend it is cool to the touch, and slowly open it (with their shoulder against it in readiness to slam it shut should smoke, heat or flames come in).
  • Once through the doorway, they should close the door behind them and find the quickest and easiest exit from the building. Practice keeping low to avoid breathing toxic fumes - in fact, you may consider asking the participants to crawl along the floor with their eyes closed to simulate the worst possible conditions of escape.
  • Everyone should meet at the pre-arranged rendezvous. When the last person arrives, stop the timer. Note the time and try to improve on this the next time you have a drill.
  • For the second test have everyone return to their bedrooms and close the doors. Then sound the alarm.
  • They must feel the door, pretend it is hot and prepare themselves to use the alternate escape route. They should not attempt anything that could lead to injury at this time, but they should be able to demonstrate their ability to escape using whatever equipment is available.
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