SERVPRO of Murrieta Urges People to Create and Practice Plans to Escape Fires

SERVPRO^® of Murrieta Works Wonders, Not Miracles

We stand by our motto:

When fire and water take control of your life,

we help you take it back.

At SERVPRO of Murrieta, we really can restore structures to something like preloss condition. What we can’t do, however, is replace the people who live and work in the buildings.

According to Ready.gov, 71% of people in the U.S. have fire escape plans, but only 47% practice them. For those of you who do have plans, please practice them. For those who haven’t made a plan, we have these tips to get you started.

Make Sure There Will be Time to Escape

Smoke detectors are helpful only if they work. If the smoke detectors are hardwired, make sure they have battery backups. Don’t remove the batteries; the annoying sound may one day save your life.

Make a plan and practice it so you don’t lose time figuring out what to do.

Make sure you can get everyone out to safety in less than two minutes.

Creating a Plan

• Work with everyone in the home. Everyone should know how to get out of the doors and windows.
• Help children draw the routes out of every room.
• Ensure all doors and windows can be opened.
• Remove obstacles (furniture or toys) from the doors and windows.
• Assign someone to help those who have limited mobility (such as people in wheelchairs, toddlers) or who do not see well enough to find the escape routes.
• Have backup assignments in case a designated helper is not at home when it is time to escape.
• Check that the house number is visible from the street.
• If there are security bars, install emergency releases.
• Install ladders so people can leave from windows on the upper floors.
• Choose a meeting place that is a safe distance from the house, but easy for everyone to find.
• Teach children that they cannot go back into the house until firefighters say it is safe.

Practicing the Plan

• Practice at different times of the day or night.
• Have two practices year.
• Practice crawling as if moving under smoke or fire.
• Close doors on the way out. The closed doors slow the spread of fire.

Sealing in for Safety

If fire blocks the escape routes:

• Close doors between you and the fire.
• Block vents to keep out smoke.
• Call the fire department to report your exact location.
• Open a window at the bottom or top to let in fresh air.

SERVPRO of Murrieta is ready to help remediate your disaster 24 hours a day, 364 days a year.  Give us a call at 951-894-4392.