What you should know

It is important to understand the basic characteristics of fire. Fire spreads quickly, in just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a location can be engulfed in flames.

Heat and smoke from fire can be more dangerous than the flames. Inhaling the super-hot air can sear your lungs. Fire produces poisonous gases that make people disoriented and drowsy.  Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio.

Prepare

1. Do not store combustible materials in rooms with electrical transformers.
2. Do not overload electrical outlets.
3. Ensure no objects are stored within 18 inches of the bottom of the fire sprinklers heads. The sprinklers need at least 18 inches to have a complete spray pattern.
4. Ensure all staff is trained to evacuate the building. They should know at least two emergency evacuation routes to the Assembly Area.
5. Ensure all staff physically walk the evacuation routes to the Assembly Areas at least once a year. It is recommended that this is done by holding an annual evacuation drill when it least impacts operations.
6. Ensure all staff know the location of the fire pull stations.(Note, some building may not have pull stations)
7. Touch closed doors with back of hand before opening them; if hot, use alternate route.

Respond immediately

1. Upon discovery of a fire, call the local emergency number.
2. Use a fire pull station to activate the fire alarm.
3. Upon hearing the fire alarm or seeing the fire strobes, be aware of the situation occurring.
4. Check for the signs of smoke/fire in your immediate area and evacuate immediately.
5. Place first priority on rescue and first aid, not on fire suppression. Do not attempt to extinguish a fire unless you have been trained and are comfortable using the fire extinguisher; if the fire is larger than an office trash can, do not attempt to extinguish it under any circumstance.
6. Always consider the possibility of explosion.
7. If smoke is present, stay low, and touch all doors with the back of your hand before opening them.
8. DO NOT open any door that is hot to the touch.
9. If no one is behind you, close doors you pass through to keep the fire contained.
10. If smoke or flames block your path, turn around and look for another exit.
11. If you are unable to reach an exit, move away from the fire, leaving the doors between you and the fire closed, but not locked.
12. Leave sprinkler systems running after the fire is extinguished, except by order of the Fire Department.