It's important to be prepared for these situations. If your house caught fire today, these are the steps you should take to protect yourself and get out safely.
The first thing you should do is assess and decide whether to fight or flee. Don't attempt to extinguish any fire if there is a threat to your safety. If the fire is small and you know how to use a fire extinguisher, you can attempt to extinguish the fire. You must note that fires can increase in size and intensity in seconds, blocking the exit path as well as create a hazardous atmosphere. That being said, you should attempt to fight only very small incipient stage fires. Secondly, you want to make sure that your priority is to get yourself and your family out as quickly as possible. Please don't think of picking up your valuables. Timing is everything in these situations, as every single second counts! You may only have a few seconds to escape safely so there is no point getting yourself hurt or even killed because you wanted to pick up your possessions.
The next thing on the list is: don't use elevators. I'm sure most people are aware of this, but it is important to use the stairs so you don't get trapped in the elevator. Instead, if you encounter smoke, crawl to the nearest exit. Why is this important? Did you know that many of the fire related deaths are caused by smoke inhalation and not from burns? The toxic gases and the super-heated air in the smoke makes it more dangerous. Smoke is lighter than air and so it rises above air. Some toxic smoke may also settle at floor level. So, there lies a safety zone where you will clean breathable air - one to two feet above the floor. Cover your nose and mouth and crawl on your knees.
Don't open a hot door. Before opening a door, check if it is hot using the back of your hand. If the door feels hot, don't open the door. If the door feels cool, open it slowly and pass through it.
If your clothes catch fire, use the 'stop, drop, roll' technique. You must drop to the ground, lying down if possible, covering your face with your hands to avoid facial injury and then roll on the ground in an effort to extinguish the fire by depriving it of oxygen.
And finally, call your local emergency services number for help. You should not enter the building unless it is safe to do so.
