A fire can grow and spread through your home very quickly. When the smoke alarm sounds, you need to react immediately and know exactly what to do. To be fully prepared for a home fire you need to plan and practice.

Make sure that you have at least working smoke alarm on each level of the home and in or near each sleeping area. Test the smoke alarms monthly by using the test button, and replace the batteries once a year or when the alarm “chirps”, warning that the battery is low.

When entering other buildings, including other people’s homes, check to see what type of emergency alarm system is present. If it sounds, act immediately.

Draw a floor plan of your home, marking all doors and windows, and the location of each smoke alarm. If windows or doors have security bars, equip them with quick-release devices on the inside. Bars are installed to restrict entry to a home, but may trap you inside in an emergency.

Locate two escape routes from each room. The first way out would be the door, and the second way out could be a window. If you must use a second story window as an escape route, consider buying a fire escape ladder that can be dropped from a window for your escape.

As you exit your home, close all doors behind you to slow the spread of smoke and fire.

If your exit is blocked by smoke or fire, use your second exit to escape. If you must escape through smoke, stay low and crawl under the smoke to safety. Smoke will rise to the ceiling, leaving cooler, cleaner air close to the floor.

If you live in a high-rise building, use the stairs – never the elevator – in case of fire.

Choose a meeting place a safe distance from your home and mark it on your escape plan. In case of fire, everyone should gather at the meeting place, then call 9-1-1.

Make sure that your address is visible. Firefighters, police and ambulance attendants will be there to help quicker if they can find your home easily.

Practice your escape plan at least twice a year so everyone in your home is comfortable with what they have to do to get out safely.

Once you are out, stay out. NEVER go back inside a burning building.