COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM

FIRE

FIRE
INTRODUCTION
In 2006 fire killed more Americans than all natural disasters combined. Additionally, fire
resulted in direct property damages in excess of 11 billion dollars.
Fires pose the following dangers:
 Asphyxiation: Asphyxiation is the leading cause of death in a fire, by a three-to-
one ratio over burns.
 Heat: A fully developed room fire has temperatures over 1,100 degrees
Fahrenheit.
 Smoke: Fire generates black, impenetrable smoke that blocks the vision, stings
the eyes, and clogs the lungs. It may be impossible to navigate through such
smoke.
FIRES IN THE HOME
Roughly 85 percent of all fire deaths occur where people sleep, such as in homes,
dormitories, barracks, or hotels. The majority of fatal fires occur when people are less
likely to be alert, such as during nighttime sleeping hours.
Nearly all home and other building fires are preventable, even arson fires. The majority
of arson fires are caused by juveniles who often respond to counseling, and the rest can
be deterred in a number of ways. No fire is inevitable.
In 2006, 2,620 people died in reported home fires in the United States—about 7 people
per day. In addition, thousands of people were injured in home fires, many with severe
burns (USFA).
Fire victims are disproportionately children or the elderly. One out of every four fires that
kill young children is started by children playing with fire (NFPA 2003).
Approximately 900 senior citizens die in fires annually.

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The key to fire preparedness is a family fire plan. Every family fire plan should include:
 Smoke alarms on every level of the home and near all sleeping areas.
 Two escape routes from every room in the home. Escape ladders should be a
consideration for sleeping areas on upper floors. These ladders should be stored
near windows.
 Practice the escape plan at least twice each year. Practice getting out both day
and night. Practice escapes should include low-crawl escapes, ensuring that all
family members’ heads are one to two feet above the floor. As part of escape
planning, select a safe area outside the home for the family to gather after
escaping the fire. Ensure that all know to meet at that place so, when firefighters
arrive, they can be notified quickly of family status.
 Practice alerting family members by yelling “Fire!” several times. In a real fire,
this alert may help family members escape.
 Learn the fire department’s emergency number, especially if the community does
not have 9-1-1 service. Make sure that all family members know to escape the
fire first, then call the fire department from a neighbor’s home.
It is very important to discuss with the entire family what to do in a fire. Every family
member needs to know what to do in case the entire family is not together when a fire
occurs. Also, awareness helps to reduce fear and ensures that all family members know
what to do.
If you see a fire or hear the smoke alarm, you should:
 Yell “Fire!” several times and exit quickly. Never use an elevator when escaping
a fire. Other points to remember include:
 If escaping through smoke, crawl low, under the smoke.
 If escaping through a closed door, look first at the door. If air is being sucked
under the door or smoke is seeping out the top of the door, do not open the
door.
 If there is no sucking air or escaping smoke, feel the door with the back of the
hand, as well as the space between the door and its frame and the doorknob
before opening the door. Never open a door that feels hot.
 Go to the agreed upon meeting place, then send one person to call the fire
department. Gathering at the meeting place first will quickly indicate who is
outside and allow family members to advise firefighters immediately when they
arrive.

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If smoke, heat, or flames block all exit routes, you should stay in the room with the door
closed.
 Stop up areas where smoke could come in using wet towels, sheets, or clothes
under doors and in vents.
 Call the fire department and tell them where you are—even if the fire department
has already been called.
 Open windows slightly at top and bottom to allow smoke to exit and fresh air to
enter the room.
 Stay low and near a window to breathe fresh air.
 Hang or wave a bright-colored or white cloth at the window to signal the fire
department when they arrive.
To help prevent fires in your home:
 Conduct a home hazard hunt. Many items and conditions around the home can
present fire hazards. Taking time to look for and eliminate hazards will reduce the
risk.
 Inspect wood stoves and chimneys annually. Burning wood leaves creosote
deposits which are flammable in the firebox, flue, and chimney. These buildups
must be removed professionally to minimize the risk of fire.
 Purchase heaters only if they have been laboratory tested and approved. Follow
the manufacturer’s directions for use. Keep blankets, clothing, curtains, furniture,
and any other flammable items at least 3 feet away from heat sources. Plug
heaters directly into a wall socket, and unplug them when they are not in use.
 Keep matches and lighters away from children. Children are fascinated by fire
and will play with matches and lighters if they are available.
 Check electrical wiring, and replace frayed extension cords, exposed wires, or
loose plugs. Ensure that all outlets have cover plates, and avoid overloading
outlets or extension cords.
 Keep combustible materials away from the stove, including towels, clothing,
curtains, bags, boxes, and other appliances. Combustible materials near stoves
can catch fire quickly while the cook’s attention is elsewhere.
These are only a few suggestions for preventing fires. Additional suggestions, including
how to select and use fire extinguishers, will be covered in Unit 2, Fire Safety.

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FIRE

WILDFIRES
There are three classes of wildfires:
 A surface fire is the most common type of fire and burns along the floor of a
forest, moving slowly and killing or damaging trees.
 A ground fire is usually started by lightning and burns on or below the forest floor
in the humus layer down to the mineral soil.
 Crown fires spread rapidly by wind and move quickly by jumping along the tops
of trees.
Wildfires often begin unnoticed and many fires can spread quickly, igniting brush, trees,
and homes.
Because more people are choosing to make their homes in woodland settings in or near
forests, rural areas, or remote mountain sites, a greater percentage of the population is
becoming vulnerable to the hazards of wildfire.
More than four out of every five forest fires are started by people. Negligent human
behavior, such as smoking in forested areas or improperly extinguishing campfires, is
the cause of many forest fires.
Improper design, combustible materials and landscaping, and lack of attention to weed
abatement in woodland residential areas, contribute to the hazard to humans and
animals.
Some of the strategies for wildfire preparedness are the same as for fires in the home,
and developing a family fire escape plan will be helpful for wildfires as well as fires in
the home. In the case of wildfires, some additional strategies are required.
To prepare for a possible wildfire, you should:
 Keep a garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of the home and other
structures. Buy a ladder that is high enough to reach the roof.
 If a pool, lake, or stream is available, consider obtaining a portable gasoline-
powered water pump.
 Equip chimneys and stovepipes with spark arresters.
 Keep fire tools handy. Fire tools include shovels, rakes, axes, chain or
handsaws, buckets, and one or more fire extinguishers.
 Use proper building and landscape design. Wildland fire experts recommend that
flammable vegetation be cleared to a distance of at least 30 feet around the
home. This is commonly referred to as a “defensible space” or “safety zone.”
Experts also recommend the use of fireproof or fire resistant roofing in areas
where wildfires are a hazard.

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Additional strategies for wildfire preparedness include:

 Marking all driveway entrances so that firefighters are aware that the home is
there and can find it quickly during a fire.
 Following all local burning laws. Never burn during dry weather or within 75 feet
of a structure or combustibles. Never leave a fire unattended, not even a
cigarette.
Despite best efforts, wildfires will still occur.
There are several measures that you should take inside the home to prevent damage
from wildfire:
 Listen for emergency information on radio or television stations or the Emergency
Alert System (EAS). If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Delay increases
the risk of being trapped by the fire and can interfere with fire department
response.
 Confine pets to one room or arrange for them to stay with a friend or relative.
 Move flammable furniture to the center of the home, away from windows and
sliding glass doors.
 Remove flammable drapes and curtains. Close venetian blinds and
noncombustible window treatments.
 Close all doors and windows to reduce air flow.
If trapped by a wildfire, you should try to find a body of water in which to crouch. If
possible, cover the head and upper body with wet clothing. If a body of water is not
accessible, look for shelter in a cleared area or within a rock bed. Breathe the air close
to the ground, preferably through a dry cloth.
 Use caution when reentering the area after a wildfire. Hazards may still exist,
including hot spots, which can flare up without warning.
 Inspect the roof immediately and extinguish sparks or embers that could reignite
the fire.
 Have propane or heating oil tanks inspected by the supplier before using the
system. Tanks may shift or fall from their stands or fuel lines may have kinked or
weakened. Heat from the fire may have caused the tank to warp or bulge
(especially if the tank is not vented).
 Check the stability of trees around the home. They may have lost stability as a
result of fire damage. Also, identify and mark ash pits (created by burned trees
and stumps). Falling into a hot ash pit can cause serious burns.
 If there is no power, check the main breaker. Fires may cause breakers to trip. If
the breakers are on and power is still not available, call the utility company.

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FIRE

You must take precautions while cleaning the property following a fire by:
 Wetting down debris to reduce dust in the air
 Using an N-95 mask with nose clip
 Wearing coverall and leather gloves to protect the hands
 Checking with local authorities before disposing of household hazardous
materials

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