Be Emergency Ready:
- Have a plan so that you and your family know what to do in an emergency. Practice how you will leave your home safely, especially if you have children. Pick a place outside your home where everyone in your household will meet in an emergency.
- Create an emergency kit (including a list of important contacts) and know where it is.
- Have insurance to help protect your family and your belongings.
- Make sure your family members know your emergency contact’s name and number.
If there is a fire in your unit that you cannot put out, leave immediately, pull the nearest fire alarm and call 911.
If there is a fire in your building, consult the instructions on the back of your unit door.
DO NOT use the elevator.
- Before opening any door, touch the door handle and the door itself, starting from the bottom, moving to the top. If the door is not hot, open it slightly. If the hallway is clear, take your keys and grab-and go bag (if you have one) and leave using the nearest stairway.
- Close all doors behind you as you leave.
- Fire doors in hallways will close automatically. Do not prop them open.
If You Cannot Leave:
- Seal all cracks where smoke can enter by using wet towels or wet sheets. Use tape to cover mail slots and ventilation outlets.
- Move to the balcony or the room farthest away from the smoke. Smoke rises, so stay low to the floor, if you can.
- Hang a towel or sheet in your window or from your balcony to show firefighters where you are.
- Call 911 and let them know where you are.
- Try to stay calm. London Fire Services recommends creating a kit with the following items to use in case of fire:
a) A few towels or washcloths you can wet and place at the base of a door, as well as over your mouth and your nose, to help you breathe in smoke-filled areas.
b) Some duct tape and foil wrap to cover mail slots and vents.
c) A whistle to signal for help.
d) A flashlight to use if there is a power failure, if hallways are smoky, or to signal for help.
e) A marker to write messages on cloth, doors, or windows.
f) A cotton bed sheet. If smoke is heavy in your room, soak the bed sheet with water and make a tent near an open window.
g) A plastic pail with a lid for storing everything on this list. During a fire, fill the pail with water.
For more information on fire safety and prevention, visit the London Fire Services Website www.london.ca/fire.
