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House fire: what to do and how to escape

Emergency numbers differ by country. This page uses 911, the number for the United States and Canada. Many other countries use 112, 999, or another number. Find the number for your country.

A home fire can fill a room with smoke in minutes. This page helps you get out alive, and tells you what to do if you cannot.

Do this now

  1. Get out. Do not stop to gather belongings, pets, or valuables.
  2. Crawl low under smoke, where the air is clearer.
  3. Feel closed doors with the back of your hand before you open them.
  4. Go to your meeting place outside, and count everyone.
  5. Call your local emergency number (911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across the European Union, 999 in the United Kingdom) from outside.
  6. Stay out. Never go back in for anything.

Get out and stay out

Smoke and toxic gases are the main danger, and they can overcome you in a short time. Leave at the first sign of fire, and shout to wake others as you go. Close doors behind you if you can, because a closed door slows the spread of fire and smoke.

Once you are outside, stay out. If someone is missing, tell the firefighters when they arrive and say where the person may be. Do not go back inside to look.

Crawl low under smoke

Hot smoke rises, so the cleanest air is near the floor. Get down on your hands and knees and crawl toward the exit. Keep your head low and cover your nose and mouth with cloth if you can.

If you know two ways out of every room, use the one that is clear. Do not use an elevator in a fire. Use the stairs.

Feel doors before you open them

Before you open a closed door, touch it with the back of your hand, then the knob. If it is hot, do not open it. Use another way out.

If the door is cool, open it slowly and stand to one side. If you see smoke or heat pouring in, slam it shut and use another exit.

If you are trapped

If you cannot get out, shut the door and seal the cracks with wet towels or clothing, then block vents if you can. Call your local emergency number and tell them exactly where you are in the building.

Go to a window and signal for help by waving a light cloth or flashlight. If you are on a low floor and must jump or climb out, lower yourself as far as you can first and go feet first. Stay low in the room and keep the door closed.

... danger "Never go back inside" Fires can spread faster than you can move. People die going back for pets, phones, and papers. Stay outside and tell the firefighters who or what is still inside.

If your clothes catch fire

Stop, drop, and roll. Stop where you are, drop to the ground and cover your face with your hands, then roll over and over until the flames are out. Do not run, because running feeds the fire.

Once the flames are out, cool the burn with cool running water and get medical help. Our burns guide explains what to do next.

Kitchen grease fires

Cooking is a leading cause of home fires. If grease in a pan catches fire, slide a lid over the pan and turn off the heat. Leave the lid in place until the pan is completely cool.

Never throw water on a grease fire, because it makes the flames spread. Do not carry the burning pan outside. If the fire grows beyond the pan, leave and call for help.

For an oven fire, turn off the oven and keep the door closed. If a microwave is on fire, keep the door shut and unplug it if you can do so safely.

Plan ahead

A fire plan takes ten minutes and can save your life. Walk through your home with everyone who lives there.

  • Find two ways out of every room.
  • Pick one meeting place outside, such as a tree or a neighbor's mailbox.
  • Practice getting out at least twice a year, once at night.
  • Make sure windows open and exits are not blocked.
  • Teach children to leave and not hide.

Smoke alarms

Working smoke alarms give you the early warning that makes escape possible. Put alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home.

Test them monthly by pressing the test button, and replace batteries as the maker recommends. Replace the whole alarm when it reaches the age the manufacturer states, often around ten years. Check your local fire service for rules on alarms in your area.

In the United States

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the US Fire Administration advise alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level. Many local fire departments will help with free or low cost alarms.

After the fire

Do not go back in until the fire service says it is safe. Ask them about utilities, structural damage, and where to stay. Contact your insurer and a relief organization such as the Red Cross if you need shelter, clothing, or food.