If you are in a high-rise building and a fire breaks out, ultimately it is up to the individuals in the building to make an immediate and informed decision as to what to do.
When It Is Best To Stay Put
Although every fire is different and each person must make his or her own decision, there are some instances in which staying where you are and "protecting in place" may be a better choice than evacuating:
- The building has working sprinkler systems and the fire is in a different part of the building (for example, 11 floors below you).
- The high-rise is a hotel or residential building as these are enclosed units, not open floor plans like office buildings.
- Smoke or flames are outside your door and there is no fire in your room.
- A disability would make evacuation difficult or you are physically unable to evacuate. George Hitchcock, Division Chief of Fire/Life Safety Education for the City of Brampton Fire and Emergency Services says, “If you know you will need help in a fire, get a list to your superintendent of people in the building who need assistance to send to the fire department.”
Another time it may be a best to stay put is when you waited too long to evacuate. According to Dr. Guylène Proulx, a Senior Research Officer with the National Research Council Canada in Ottawa and one of only 100 scientists in the world specializing in the way people behave in a fire, “We know from the deadliest fires that, in the middle of the night, people take a very long time to respond to a fire alarm, even with voice communication," she says. "Often, by the time they decide to evacuate, it's at the worst time. By then, the fire department has arrived and has begun opening doors to ventilate the fire, so that what had been a means of egress is likely to become contaminated with smoke. This makes evacuation of occupants extremely dangerous. We're more and more convinced that it might be safer for occupants to stay put and take protective action instead of attempting to evacuate the high-rise structure."
Why Not Evacuate?
Why shouldn’t everyone in a high-rise evacuate? It is becoming increasingly common for firefighters to find casualties far from the fire area while people who stayed in their space, even on the fire floor, were uninjured. In January 1995, a fire broke out on the fifth floor of a 30-storey apartment building in North York, Ontario, when a cigarette was dropped onto a couch. The occupant of the unit fled, leaving the door open. The smoke rapidly spread into the corridor and stairwell. Six people died in the stairwell on the 29th floor while people who stayed where they were, even on the fifth floor, were fine.
Before deciding whether to evacuate the building or stay in your room and “protect in place”, there is something you need to consider. In the event of a high-rise fire, it is rarely the fire itself that injures or kills people. Contrary to what Hollywood portrays, fire is not going to chase you down and attack you. It is the by-products of fire - smoke and panic - that will get you long before the fire arrives – if it ever does.
- Smoke – Just because there is smoke, the high-rise is not necessarily burning down. A smouldering mattress can produce great amounts of smoke and very little flame. Also, air systems can carry smoke to other rooms or floors.
- Panic – Panic causes people to do things that can kill them. People in a state of panic are rarely able to save themselves. Their imaginations are running wild, trying to take over. How do you avoid the sudden, overwhelming terror that will affect many of the people in a fiery high-rise? Understand what is going on, what to do, and how to get there so panic will not set in. Panic is contagious. Don’t let it spread to you.
A Fire Breaks Out!
The moment you prepared for has arrived. The fire alarm is going off, you see and smell smoke, and you hear people shouting. Dial 9-1-1. The red manual pull tab is not connected to Fire Services. Never assume anyone has already called for help. Don’t feel embarrassed about calling the fire department. They would rather come to a small fire than show up after people have died.
You now have two choices; you can stay where you are and protect yourself or you can evacuate.
If you decide to evacuate, DO IT IMMEDIATELY. Do not hesitate. Do not change your clothes or go looking for your box of mementos. Deputy Chief Garry Bell suggests you take three items with you:
- flashlight
- cellular phone
- jacket and boots (seasonal clothes)
Before opening your door, feel the handle and the door itself with your palm. If either is hot, do not open it. Stay where you are and protect yourself.
If the door is not hot, slowly open it and assess the situation. As you leave, close the door behind you but do not lock it. You might need to return if evacuation is not possible.
Calmly make your way to the exit door. Stay against the wall on the side where the exit is. It may be smoky and this will keep you from passing the exit door or getting disoriented. If you are in the middle of the hall, the people who are panicking may run you over.
When you reach the exit, walk down, holding tight to the handrail. This is very important. The people who are running will knock you down and you may not be able to get back up. Just hang on and stay out of everyone’s way. All you have to do now is leave the building, cross the street, and watch the action.
Hopefully this information will help you decide whether to hunker in or evacuate if you are ever faced with a high-rise fire.
Toby Welch - Toby is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in magazine articles, online writing, e-books, and manuscript editing.
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