Evacuation Procedures for Apartments

In the event of a fire, keep calm. Notify the fire department and follow the directions of fire department personnel. If you must take immediate action, use your judgment as to the safest course of action, guided by the following information:

If The Fire Is In Your Apartment...

• Close the door to the room where the fire is located.
• Make sure EVERYONE leaves the room/suite.
• Close the entrance door as you exit, but do not lock.
• Alert people on your floor by knocking on doors on your way to the exit.
• If there is a fire alarm pull station on your floor, activate it.
• Use the nearest stairway to leave the building.

• Do NOT use the elevator
• Call 911 once you reach a safe location. Do not assume the fire has been reported unless firefighters are on the scene.
• Meet your roommates at a pre-determined location outside the building. Notify responding emergency personnel if anyone is unaccounted for.

If The Fire Is Not In Your Apartment...

• Stay inside your room/suite and listen for instructions from firefighters, unless conditions become dangerous.
• If you must exit your room/suite, first feel your room/suite door and doorknob with the back of your hand. If they are not hot, open the door slightly to check if there is any flame or smoke in the hallway.
• If you can safely exit your room/suite, follow the instructions for a "fire in your room/suite."
• If you cannot safely exit your room/suite or building, call 911 or the Fire Department Dispatcher and inform them of your situation. Provide the address, floor, room/suite number and the number of persons present.
• Seal the front door with wet sheets or towels. Seal air ducts and any other openings where smoke may enter.
• Open windows a few inches at the top and bottom unless flames or smoke is coming from below.
• Do not break any windows; they may need to be closed later.
• If conditions in the room/suite appear life threatening, open a window and wave a bedsheet or towel side-to-side to attract the attention of firefighters.
• If smoke conditions worsen before help arrives, get down on the floor and take short breaths through your nose. If possible, retreat to a balcony or terrace away from the source of the flames, heat or smoke.