Fortunately, I have never been in a burning building. Suffice to say, it is an experience I would rather avoid if at all possible. Over the years, I’ve seen movies like the Towering Inferno and, given the fact I saw it as a young child, it traumatized me. Seeing people on fire, falling from dozens of stories above ground all kept me from high rise buildings for years. I also never forgot the lessons of “staying low” and “stop, drop and roll”.
Whether you’re outdoors or in a building, smoke will usually be the first indication of fire. If the fire is still small, attempt to extinguish by covering with a blanket or thick curtain (to deprive the fire of oxygen), or using sand, water or a fire extinguisher if available and appropriate.
Electrical Fires
If there is any possibility of a fire being caused by an electrical fault, do NOT use water until the power has been turned off, preferably at the main source. They didn’t do this in the Towering Inferno and it immediately made things worse. Turn off the gas at its main source as well. If televisions or computers catch fire, do NOT user water on them. Even after being disconnected, there is still sufficient residual electrical charge to give you a shock (or even kill you – remember, it’s the Amps that kill, not the Volts).
Evacuation
If the fire is already too big to fight with the resources available, evacuate the building. Turn off power, preferably at the main source. Close all reachable doors and windows. Try to contain the fire while evacuation is completed and prevent the fire’s spread before fire-fighting services or rescuers arrive.
Fire travels upwards faster than downward – though a collapsing floor or wall will carry the fire to a lower level. Staircases, elevators and ventilation shafts are particularly dangerous and should be avoided if there is any indication of fire in their vicinity.
NEVER use an elevator during a fire. If you need to move down a building, use a smoke-free staircase.
Before opening any doors look for smoke around their edges and check for heat. Metal doorknobs are a good test. If they feel warm do NOT open the door – use the back of your hand for the test. Grasping the knob could cause a burn. A strong door can keep fire back for 30 minutes or more (but do not rely on this with thin-panelled modern doors – unless they are fire doors).
Waiting For Rescue
If you find yourself isolated and unable to get to safety, go to a room as far from the fire as possible (but NOT on a higher level unless you are certain that rescuers with long ladders or other equipment are very close).
If there is a choice, pick a room with the softest ground outside, no railings below or where there are clothes or curtains which you can knot into a rope. Lawns, flowerbeds, even gravel paths are softer than cobblestones, concrete or paving. If you are forced to drop down on to hard concrete surface, a sloping surface will likely cause less injury..
If you find yourself in a fire-free room, CLOSE THE DOOR and fill any gaps around it with curtains, mats or other thick material, which will take time to catch fire. Wet them if possible. If an alarm has not been given, try to attract attention through any available windows.
To break the window, use a piece of furniture. You could kick it out, but do not bring you foot back immediately as you will have to navigate broken glass, which should be done carefully to avoid any unnecessary injury. If you have to use your hand, wrap it first and then punch. Alternatively, when protected by a thick jacket, an elbow may be just as effective.
Preparing To ‘Jump’
If no rescue is forthcoming, do NOT jump – drop instead. Tie sheets, blankets, mats, loose covers and other strong materials together to make a rope – even if it does not reach the ground it will reduce the distance you will have to fall. Tie them with reef knots and test that each is firm by pulling.
Push a heavy piece of furniture over to the window and secure one end of your rope to it, or tie your rope to any solid, unmovable object – or smash the window and tie on to a thick part of the frame. If the rope is not long enough, drop cushions, pillows, a mattress – anything which will soften your landing, below the window.
If there is nothing to use as a rope, lower yourself out of the window and hang from the window sill. If there is no sill, hang from the bottom of the window frame.
Dropping From A Height
Having taken every precaution to reduce the height of your fall, think of protecting your head – a motor-cycle crash helmet is ideal but, obviously, may not be available. However, a jersey or towel wrapped round your head like a turban will help.
When you are as low as possible, and ready to drop, push yourself away from the building with the side of the one foot and, as you let go, turn away from the wall and bend the knees. Leave the arms up to protect the sides of the head.
As you land, bend the knees more and roll over on to one side, carrying the roll on to your back (still protecting your head and with your legs in the air). This helps spread the impact over a larger area and increases your chances of survival and relatively minimal injuries.
Falling Onto A Slope
Face down the slope as you drop, with legs together, with the knees sightly bent. Bring the head down on to the chest and the elbows tightly into the sides, the hands protecting the head. Land on flat feet, allowing the knees to bend fully, rolling forward in a tight somersault. This is the method that parachutists use.
Wait until you have ABSOLUTELY no other choice before risking a drop greater than 13 ft (4 m).
Survival Tips
If there is no alternative to going into a burning room: brace your foot against the door and open it only a crack – this will help to stop it being forced wide open by the pressure of hot air and gases inside. Crouch low to enter, opening the door as little as possible. This will expose you to less smoke and heat and give the fire less chance to pass through the gap. Close the door behind you to delay the fire’s spread.
Do NOT jump out of a window – unless there is a party of firefighters waiting to catch you in a blanket or there is no other choice (see above). Where there is something to break your fall, make use of it, do not try to drop clear. A car roof makes a good cushion to drop on as it will give slightly to your weight.
BEWARE: Trees may break your fall, but there is a risk of your being impaled on the branches.
If forced to travel through fire to reach safety, cover yourself (including you head) in a blanket, curtain or overcoat – wet it if you can – then take a deep breath and go.
If your clothes catch on fire do NOT stay on your feet when out of the fire. The fire and smoke will travel up your body, over your face and into your lungs. Roll on the ground and try to wrap yourself in something that will smother the fire – a mat, blanket or overcoat.
Do NOT run – this will only fan the fire.
If someone else comes running out of a fire with burning clothes, push them to the ground and use the same methods of denying the fire oxygen. Do NOT hug them to you as your own clothes may catch on fire.