Senior Fire Safety

Teaching older adults to protect themselves from fires can be a challenging task. This is because unlike the other high-risk grandchildren, older adults cannot be easily reached through a single avenue, such as the school system. Some older adults are very active in the community, while others, due to health or lifestyle may be much more isolated. Through a combination of public education and community outreach programs, we hope to reach the majority of older adults with the Fire Safety message.

If You Reside in Your Own Home:

Investigate installing or ensure that you have a Lock Box on the exterior of your home. For more information, see the Seniors for Seniors Lock Box Program.

If You Discover Fire:

• Leave the area of danger
• Close all doors in your path of exit
• Sound the Fire Alarm
• Phone 911 when you are out of danger
• Use the stairwell only, never use the elevator

Upon Hearing the Fire Alarm:

• Turn off all appliances
• Feel the door before opening it.
• If it is hot stay inside and call 911 for help
• If the door is not hot, leave the building via the nearest exit stairwell, closing all doors behind you.

Common Sense

• Never place yourself or others in jeopardy by trying to extinguish the fire before you have notified others by activating the fire alarm.
• Once the fire alarm system has been activated and 911 have been called, you may want to attempt to control the fire. Remember, use common sense! No property or possession is worth your life.
• A typical fire extinguisher in your building will last approx. 8-10 seconds. If the fire cannot be controlled with this extinguisher, it is too big for you attempt to handle. VACATE IMMEDIATELY!
• Do not put burning materials such as cigarettes and ashes into the garbage chute.
• Avoid smoking in bed or your favorite recliner. Many sleepy smokers have started fires this way. Place smoke alarms above these areas for added safety.

Know Your Building

• You should know where your exits are and your nearest fire alarm pull station. Familiarization saves time.
• Be sure to know two ways out of your building in the event one is blocked by fire or smoke.
• Make a simple floor plan of both exits. Practice using both ways out. Pace off the distance to the exits. In the event of an emergency, things may be dark so, be sure you can follow your escape plan under these conditions.
• Familiarize yourself with the outside area and pick a meeting spot that everyone is familiar with.
• Practice with your family.

Building Safety Features Fire Alarm System

• Your apartment has a fire alarm system and will activate in one of several ways:
• Pulling or activating the fire alarm pull-station, generally located near exits.
• A Smoke Detector or Heat Detector going off which activates the fire alarm system. These devices are located in storage rooms, hallways, stairwells, laundry rooms, service rooms etc.

Exit Doors

• Exit doors leading to stairwells should to be kept closed at all time except when in use for your protection. The stairwell is designed as a safe place of refuge. When you leave your room and enter the stairwell you should be able to exit outside safely.
• If these doors are propped open and something happens in a room or corridor, the smoke and heat have an avenue into the stairwell. For the safety of all, keep these doors closed to maintain the integrity of the fire separations and allowing you a safe exit if you need it.

Access to Exits

• Be sure to keep all access to exits and stairwells free of storage at all times. Not only does storage make it difficult to exit the stairwell, it is also a fire hazard in itself. 

Fire Extinguishers

• You should have 2A-10BC Dry Chemical Extinguishers located on every floor of your apartment building. (See Fire Extinguishers for more info.)

Smoke Alarms

• There should be at least one smoke alarm in your suite provided by the landlord. (See Smoke Alarms for more info.)
• If there are problems within your building bring them to the landlord or owner for corrective action. If issues are not being addressed, contact the Fire Prevention Bureau in your area.

Life safety is everyone's business. Be fire safety conscious!