Plan Your Fire Escape

If you woke up tonight to find your home on fire, how would you escape?  If you cannot answer that question, now is the time to prepare a family escape plan!  Here are steps to help develop your plan:

• Get your family together and draw a floor plan of your home.  Mark all windows and doors.
• Plan two ways out of each bedroom.  The first way out should be the door, and the second way out could be a window.
• Make sure windows can be opened easily.  In a two-storey building, plan your escape through a window onto a roof or porch.  If you must use an escape ladder, be sure everyone knows how to use it.  Children should practice with an adult.
• Choose a meeting place for family members outside and mark it on the floor plan.  A good meeting place would be a tree, telephone pole or neighbour's home.
• Make sure everyone understands the planned escape routes. 

Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.  Remember to practice using the second way out as well as the first.

Still not convinced that you need a home escape plan?  Click here to watch a very dramatic video from the U.K. that will convince you!

Click here for more information on creating your own home fire escape plan.

For more information on preparing your home escape plan, contact the Chief Fire Prevention Officer by e-mail or by phone at 905-683-4481.