By Jerry Payne

Liverpool Fire Department Chief

Practice fire drills in your home

With a recent popular television show having an episode where a fire in a home was devastating and cost the life of one of the main actors, the Liverpool Fire Department has received questions about smoke alarms and having exit plans for fires in your home.  We’d like to remind you that your ability to get out depends on advance warning from smoke alarms and advance planning of exit routes.

Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as one or two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds. It is recommended that bedroom doors be closed at night. A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire and give you a few extra minutes to escape.

Smoke detectors

Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. You should have alarms on every level of the home. When one sounds, you should immediately get out of the house and call 911.

Have an escape plan and practice it

It is important to have an escape plan and practice getting out of your home in a real emergency. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes.   You should have two ways out of each area and remember that windows and doors that are not used regularly may be used as an emergency exit.

Have a meeting place

You should have a meeting place outside where everyone gathers in an emergency.  Do not go back into the house for anything.  Firefighters with proper gear will make entry and put the fire out. Having working smoke detectors and an exit plan can help you in a real life emergency.