Understanding Fire: How to stay safe while evacuating a Portland fire

2/25/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Northwest Portland NOW at 503-SERVPRO if you have fire damage in your home or business!

STOP! If you have fire or smoke damage in your property right now, call us at 503-SERVPRO RIGHT NOW. Don’t wait to mitigate - the longer damage sits unattended, the more likely it will develop secondary damage. Call us at 503-SERVPRO now.

SERVPRO of Northwest Portland understands the devastation a fire has on a residential home or commercial business. We also understand the struggle of trying to return back to normal life after your home or business sustains fire damage.

Here at SERVPRO of Northwest Portland, we are passionate about spreading emergency preparedness awareness. We’ve written three blogs on this topic, What to know if fire occurs in your home or business, What to remember when building a fire escape plan, and How smoke detection tools can save lives. 

For our next installment in our Understanding Fire series, we’re highlighting the importance of what to do during a fire event.

When a fire occurs in your home or business, it can develop fast, and it can often be the smoke and poisonous gases from burning materials that causes death and injury - not always direct exposure to flame. Smoke and gases will collect along the ceiling before dropping lower as the fire develops. Keep low as you evacuate, and crawl to safety if you need to.

Before opening a door, feel the doorknob and door. If either is hot, or if there is smoke coming around the door, leave the door closed and use your second way out.

If you open a door, open it slowly. Be ready to shut it quickly if heavy smoke or fire is present.

If you can’t get to someone needing assistance, leave the home and call 9-1-1 or the fire department. Tell the emergency operator where the person is located. 

If pets are trapped inside your home, tell firefighters right away.

If you can’t get out, close the door and cover vents and cracks around doors with cloth or tape to keep smoke out. Call 9-1-1 or your fire department. Say where you are and signal for help at the window with a light-colored cloth or flashlight.

If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, and roll - stop immediately, drop to the ground, and cover your face with your hands. Roll over and over or back and forth until the fire is out. If you or someone else cannot stop, drop, and roll, smother the flames with a blanket or towel. Use cool water to treat the burn immediately for 3 to 5 minutes. Cover with a clean, dry cloth. Get medical help right away by calling 9-1-1 or the fire department.

If you would like to learn more about fire preparedness, please visit Ready.gov.

If you experience fire or smoke damage in your home, call SERVPRO of Northwest Portland as soon as practical, at 503-283-3658.

Sources: Ready.gov