House Fire — Immediate Actions

A house fire can become unsurvivable in under two minutes. The correct actions in the first 60 seconds determine whether you get out safely.

⚠️ Never go back inside a burning building for any reason — possessions, pets, or people. Alert fire services immediately; re-entry kills rescuers.

Step 1 — Alert Everyone Immediately

Action	Detail
Shout "FIRE!"	Alert all occupants immediately — do not assume they know
Trigger alarm	Activate manual call point if present; do not rely on smoke alarm alone reaching everyone
Call emergency services	999 (UK) / 911 (US) / 112 (EU) — do this from outside, not inside
Knock on doors	If safe to do so on your way out — do not delay your own escape

Step 2 — Before You Open a Door

Always feel the door before opening it. A hot door means fire is directly on the other side.

Door Temperature	Action
Cool to the back of hand	Open slowly, stay low, be ready to close if smoke billows in
Warm	Use with extreme caution — fire may be close
Hot	Do not open — use alternative escape route

Step 3 — Escape Low

Smoke rises. The cleanest, coolest air is within 30 cm of the floor.

1. Get low — crawl if the corridor is smoky
2. Close doors behind you as you go — each closed door slows fire spread by up to 10–15 minutes
3. Move directly to your pre-planned escape route
4. Do not use lifts — use stairs only
5. Meet at your designated assembly point

Step 4 — If Your Escape Route is Blocked

Situation	Action
Smoke in corridor	Use alternative escape route; close doors between you and fire
All routes blocked	Go to a room with a window; close the door; seal gaps with clothing
Signalling from window	Shout, wave bright fabric; do not jump from upper floors unless fire is immediate and ground is close
Ground or first floor	Drop to window ledge, hang at arm's length, then drop — feet first
Upper floors	Wait for fire service; they will reach you faster than you think

Using a Fire Extinguisher — PASS

Only attempt to use an extinguisher on a small, contained fire if your escape route is clear and the fire is smaller than a waste bin.

Letter	Action
P — Pull	Pull the safety pin from the handle
A — Aim	Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, not the flames
S — Squeeze	Squeeze the handle to discharge
S — Sweep	Sweep side to side across the base until fire is out

If the fire does not go out in 10 seconds, evacuate immediately.

What Never to Do

Never	Why
Re-enter a burning building	Fire behaviour is unpredictable; structural collapse happens without warning
Open a hot door	You will feed oxygen to the fire and be engulfed
Use a lift	Power failure or heat can trap you
Waste time collecting belongings	2 minutes is all you have — possessions are replaceable
Hide under a bed or in a wardrobe	You will be found unconscious; fire services cannot find you quickly
Stand upright in smoke	You will inhale toxic gases within seconds

After Escaping

1. Move well away from the building
2. Call emergency services if not already done
3. Account for all household members at your assembly point
4. Tell fire services if anyone is missing or their last known location
5. Do not re-enter for any reason until fire services declare it safe

Quick Reference

Situation	Action
Fire discovered indoors	Shout FIRE; alert all; activate alarm; evacuate; call emergency services from outside
Door feels hot	Do not open — use alternative route or shelter in room
Smoke in escape route	Get low, crawl; close doors behind you
Blocked in a room	Close door, seal gaps, go to window, signal for help
Small contained fire	PASS technique; evacuate if not out in 10 seconds
Already outside	Never re-enter; account for everyone; direct fire services