Have a plan in case of a fire in your home.
Fire can and might happen to you! You must be prepared and have the knowledge to escape safely. Fire is darker, smokier, hotter, and faster than you can imagine. You must know what fire is like in order to escape the danger safely. The following are four important facts to remember:
- Fire is dark. Most people expect fire to be light. On the contrary, when there is a fire inside a home, it is pitch black. This reason people get trapped in their homes: because they could not find their way out in the dark. Be sure to have an easily accessible and rechargeable flashlight and practice an escape plan with your family.
- Smoke kills, not flames. Since most fire fatalities occur between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. when most people are sleeping, the only thing standing between the deadly fumes of fire and a safe escape is the piercing sound of a smoke alarm. The poisonous gases emitted by a fire can actually put people into a deeper sleep and many suffocate without ever waking or even becoming aware of the fire. They suffocate and die of smoke inhalation because they had no warning.
- Fire has intense heat. Fire can cause the temperature to rise several hundred degrees in just seconds. The heat is so intense that it can cause the human body to stop functioning altogether–one breath can cause severe lung damage. The heat alone can cause someone to become unconscious and not be able to escape.
- There is no time. Don’t assume you will have ample time to escape. A residential home can be totally consumed in flames in less than five minutes from the start of a fire! There is no time to waste. You must know what to do and you must get out. A closed door is often the best way to stall a fire. By closing the door, you may save yourself valuable seconds to use an alternate escape route.
Bob Beisbier, owner of BK Home Inspections, is a Certified Master Home Inspector who has been providing professional and thorough home inspections in southeast Wisconsin for over 12 years. Bob is Infrared certified, DILHR Certified, and provides Home Energy Tune-ups, Environmental Data Reports, Pre-sale Home Inspections and Pre-offer Home Inspections.
