What to do in the event of a fire
When a fire occurs, it’s easy to be frightened and even panic. People don’t think clearly in such situations, sometimes running around, jumping from high places or staying in smoke for too long, trying to figure out what to do. Other times, they try to put out the fire on their own, but the fire may spread and they may not be able to escape in time. It’s essential to have a fire action plan in mind, and practice it.
The early stages of a fire
The first person to discover a fire must shout out “Fire!” to everyone around and immediately work to extinguish the fire using a fire extinguisher, sand, or indoor fire hydrant. Be sure to aim the extinguisher or water at the base of the fire, not at the top or at the smoke. If you cannot extinguish the fire quickly, call the fire department without delay and evacuate the premises, making sure to close the doors behind you to slow down the spread. Don’t be so focused on putting out the fire that you fill your lungs with toxic smoke or become trapped in the flames.
Reporting a fire
If you can't extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher or water, report the fire immediately to the fire department. It is very important to remain calm, as many people panic and run around, increasing the likelihood of injury or death, and delaying help from the fire department.
- The first person to spot a fire should shout "Fire!" or pull the emergency alarm to alert others.
- When reporting a fire to the fire department, speak calmly and share the location of the fire, the neighborhood, and the type of fire. Practicing such an event will help you to act and report calmly.
Evacuation guidance and tips
Evacuation guidance
In the event of a fire in a department store or high-rise complex where many people visit every day, people who are not familiar with the details of the building structure may panic or become frightened, causing them to behave strangely. If you are someone who is familiar with the building structure, try to help others evacuate. When leading an evacuation, speak loudly but without panic so as to avoid creating more fear.
Evacuation tips
When a fire breaks out, a lot of toxic gases are generated as materials burn and smoke fills the air. Smoke will rise through the vertical parts of a building (such as stairwells) in a short period of time, which is why recent fires have resulted in high casualties due to smoke damage. At least 60 percent of the deaths in a fire are due to gases and smoke before the flames even reach the human body, while only about 20 percent of the deaths are caused by burns.
- When seeking to open a closed door, touch the door with your hand before opening it. If the door panel or handle is hot, it means the fire is strong on the other side of the door. In this case, do not open the door. Look for another way to evacuate.
- When evacuating, check the direction of the heat or smoke and find the emergency exit or emergency stairs in the opposite direction of the fire. Go to the ground level or the roof, whichever is closer.
- When evacuating through smoke, cover your mouth and nose with wet clothing if possible, take short breaths, stay low, and evacuate quickly.
- Accommodation facilities and entertainment establishments have exit signs and emergency lights that will help in the event of a fire, so make it a habit to locate them when entering a room.
- In the event of a fire in a high-rise building, complex or underground shopping center, elevators should never be used. They may open on a burning floor, or trap you inside if the fire shuts off the power. The elevator shaft can also act as a chimney for the smoke traveling skyward, suffocating those inside.
- Stay low and evacuate calmly and in an orderly fashion, following your supervising adult or the guidance lights in the passageway.
- Evacuate to the roof and wait for rescue if evacuating through the ground floor is not possible. Be sure to wait with your back to the wind, to avoid breathing in too much smoke.
- When evacuating through the flames, cover yourself with a wet blanket or something similar and move quickly to a safe place.
- When seeking to evacuate to the lower floor without an evacuation facility or evacuation device, you might be able to make a rope with a curtain or something similar to climb down.
What to do when trapped in a burning building
- If you are trapped in a building and the fire or smoke is close enough to you to make it difficult to evacuate, get to a place that is as safe as possible and alert the outside world that you are trapped, rather than forcing your way out through passageways or stairs.
- If smoke enters the room you are in, get down low and cover your mouth and nose with a blanket or towel soaked in water and take short breaths.
- If you become trapped inside, alert the outside world that you are trapped by yelling or throwing things out the window—preferably one that is clear of flames or smoke.
- If there is water inside, spray it on flammable objects to slow down their catching fire.
- Wrap a wet towel or thick cloth around your face and arms to prevent burns.
- If you are trapped by heat or smoke and cannot find an emergency exit, close the door, seal the gaps as much as possible, and spray water to prevent smoke from entering.
- No matter how dire the situation, you should wait with the belief that you will be rescued. Never jump out of a window or open a door in the face of flames.
- It is also important not to keep the window open, as flames or smoke from the lower floor may rise to the upper floor through the window.