Fire Prevention Week: "Have 2 Ways Out" Home Fire Escape Map

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Fire Prevention Week: "Have 2 Ways Out" Home Fire Escape Map

CAL FIRE NEWS reminds all Californians to “Have 2 Ways Out”

It only takes seconds for a fire to grow out of control, making escape from a fire impossible. That's why CAL FIRE is urging people to "Have 2 Ways Out" of their home. In the event of a fire, remember that every second counts, so you and your family must always be prepared. Escape plans help you get out of your home quickly.

Prepare and practice your fire escape plan regularly with everyone in your household, including children and people with disabilities.

CAL FIRE and fire departments across the state are taking this opportunity during Fire Prevention Week to remind all Californians of the importance of creating a fire escape plan for your home and practicing it regularly. Most home fires occur at night when people are the least prepared. Tragedy can be avoided by knowing in advance and practicing two escape routes from each room.

What would you do if there was a fire in your home?

"In 2011, 70 percent of structure fires in California reported to the CAL FIRE-Office of the State Fire Marshal were residential and accounted for 90 percent of fire deaths," said State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover. "Everyone should take steps to help prevent home fires and ensure their family is protected."

It's important to get out fast!

If It is smokey stay low, move quickly but safely.

Never hide or take time to gather up your belongings.

Good escape plans help you get out of your home quickly in case of a fire.

The best plans have TWO ways to get out of each room. If one of the ways is blocked by the fire, you can get out the other way.

When escaping, stay low to the floor. Smoke rises during a fire. The safest air is down low.

If your clothes catch on fire Stop, Drop and Roll.

Help your family make an escape plan.

1. Try to find two ways out from every room in your home. The first way out should be a door. Every way needs to be planned and practiced with a grownup.

2. Before opening any door in a fire, feel the door first at the bottom and then work your hand up the door to see if it is hot. A hot door means there may be a fire on the other side. Try to get out another way.

3. Stay low to the floor when escaping a fire.

4. If you have security bars in your home, make sure you know how to open them in case you need to escape from fire.

5. Pick a safe and easy-to-remember place outside the home to meet your family after you get out.

6. After you get out, call 9-1-1 or the fire department

Make a Home Fire Escape Map

Making an escape plan is simple:

Draw a map of your home. Mark a door and a window that can be used as escape routes to get out of every room.
- Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home. This is where everyone can meet after they've safely escaped. Draw a picture of your outside meeting place on your escape plan.
- Write the emergency telephone number for the fire department on your escape plan.
- Check your smoke alarms regularly and have practice escape drills so everyone knows two ways out.

Practicing fire-safe behaviors and knowing escape routes and what to do in an emergency can give your family the seconds needed to escape.

Change smoke alarm batteries regularly.

CFN - California Fire News 2012

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Thursday, October 4, 2012