You’ve heard of stop, drop and roll. You know how to call 9-1-1. You change the batteries in your smoke alarm at least twice a year. But do you have a fire escape plan?
A fire escape plan is a strategy to help everyone in your family get out of a fire or other emergency safely. But according to the American Red Cross, only 26% of families have developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.
Read on to learn more about the importance of having a fire escape plan and how to build your own.
Know the risk of house fires
Many people believe that they have more time to get out if there’s a fire. But according to the American Red Cross, it may only be about two minutes.
The National Fire Protection Association estimates that between 2019 and 2023, an average of 328,590 home structure fires per year occurred. “Residential fires can start in several ways,” says Chris Karacalidis, VP of Property Claims for Grange Insurance. “But some of the more common causes include cooking-related incidents, electrical issues, heating equipment, candles and other open flames, smoking materials, and outdoor fires that spread to the home.”
No matter how many precautions you take to address common fire hazards, accidents still happen. This makes it all the more important to create a fire escape plan to ensure that if an emergency occurs, each member of the household knows what to do.
How to make a fire escape plan for your home
1. Do a walk through
Gather the family and take a walk through your home, identifying all windows, doors, and other points of entry. In each room, look for at least two exit options and record your findings.
2. Map it out
Especially if you have children in your home, it’s important to physically map out your escape routes. One great tool is NFPA’s Home Escape Plan. The coloring book-like chart can help get your kids involved and educated on the fire escape plan.
3. Think about escape ladders
Consider purchasing escape ladders for rooms on upper-level floors. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and have everyone in your home practice using the ladders—start from a first story window before relying on it from an upper floor. Keep these escape ladders near the windows where they will be used.
4. Use a buddy system
While the most important thing is to get yourself out of the building quickly, if there are infants, older adults or family members who would need help escaping, assign a family member to assist them. Be sure to designate a backup in case the assigned person isn’t at home during a fire.
5. Pick a meeting spot
Come up with a place to meet after everyone has evacuated the house. The meeting spot should be a safe distance from your home. Instruct everyone to stay outside under all circumstances and call 9-1-1 once you are out of the house.
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How often should I practice my fire escape plan?
Even the most detailed fire escape plan is useless if it’s not made accessible and practiced regularly.
Once you have a written plan with a map, post it in a central location to serve as a reminder for the whole family, and practice it at least twice a year. Routine practice helps everyone remember the steps, so in an emergency, the plan becomes almost automatic.
Keep in mind that even with a perfectly practiced fire escape plan, sometimes smoke, heat or flames can block your way out. If this is the case, NFPA says to stay in the room with the door closed, then call the fire department and report your exact location. Use towels or duct tape to seal door cracks and cover air vents. If possible, open your windows and wave a flashlight or light-colored cloth to let the fire department know exactly where you are located
Be prepared
While an escape plan is a major part of home fire safety, there are other important ways to prepare for and prevent house fires. Inspect your home for fire hazards and check your smoke alarms regularly to minimize risk and ensure that your family stays safe.
You should also be sure your home has sufficient insurance coverage, so if a fire does occur, you can recover any losses.
"Fire is generally a covered cause of loss under a standard homeowners insurance policy, so a separate fire endorsement typically isn't necessary,” says Karacalidis. “Depending on the policy and circumstances of the loss, coverage may extend beyond repairing or rebuilding the home to damaged personal property and additional living expenses if the home is temporarily uninhabitable.”
"However, policies, coverages, limits and exclusions can vary,” Karacalidis goes on to explains. “Homeowners should periodically review their policy and coverage limits with their insurance agent to make sure they understand their protection and that it continues to reflect the value and characteristics of their home.”
Make sure your home has the proper coverage against fire losses—reach out to a Grange independent insurance agent today.
References
- American Red Cross: Fire escape planning fact sheet
- American Red Cross: Two minutes may be all you have to escape a house fire
- National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA)
The information provided is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, risk management, or insurance advice. Implementation of any suggestions does not guarantee coverage, prevent loss, or modify the terms, conditions, or exclusions of any insurance policy. Coverage is determined solely by the terms of the applicable policy.