Practicing your escape plan is important because fire can spread rapidly, leaving occupants with little time to escape once an alarm sounds.

Fire can spread rapidly through your home leaving  as little as two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds. Your ability to get out depends on advance warning from smoke alarms, and advance planning — a home fire escape plan is one that everyone in your family is familiar with and has practiced.

During this year’s fire safety campaign, fire fighters and safety advocates will be spreading the word about the dangers of home fires and teaching local residents how to plan and practice escape from a home in case a fire occurs.

A Community fire drill is an excellent way to raise awareness and to reinforce the importance of working smoke alarms and practicing an escape plan. Each resident must be aware of the sound, care and maintenance of smoke alarms and the importance of preparing and practicing as escape should the alarm sound. Working smoke alarms save lives.

Plan Your Escape Route

Sit down with your entire household today and make a step-by-step plan for escaping from a fire. Draw a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of every room, especially sleeping areas. Agree on a meeting place outside your home where every member of the household will gather after escaping a fire to wait for the Fire Department. This allows you to count heads and inform the fire department if anyone is trapped inside the burning building. Remember to practice your escape plan at least twice a year.

Remember, it’s important that the entire family practice the plan at least twice a year!

Tips for creating a fire escape plan

• Draw a floor plan or map of your home. Show all doors and windows.
• Mark two ways out of each room.
• Mark the location of all smoke alarms. They should be in each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home.
• Pick a place outside where everyone can meet.

For more Fire Escape Plan resources, including checklists, go to www.safeathome.ca

Location and Mailing Address

#1 Fire Hall, 1725 Broadway Street
Port Coquitlam BC  V3C 2M9

Administration Offices Business Hours: 

8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays)