Fire Prevention

• Do not accumulate quantities of discarded files or other paper trash in your office or storage area.  Pay special attention to housekeeping in those departments that produce quantities of debris, such as duplication machines, mailing and receiving rooms.
• Do not store large quantities of flammable solvents, duplicating fluids, or other combustible fluids.
• Keep electrical appliances in good repair.  Report unsafe conditions to Building Management.
• When furnishing an office, consider the fire potential of materials used in large amounts, like overstuffed chairs, settees, couches or anything that could become a combustible item.  Such furnishings should be flame-proofed.
• Where potential for fire is especially high, such as supply rooms, tenants may wish to consider installing additional fire extinguishers.

Fire Emergency

IF YOU DISCOVER A FIRE, you should remain calm and:

• Call 911 from a safe location.  Please give the building name, location of the fire, and as many details as possible.
• Evacuate or relocate and assist all others in the immediate area.
• If possible, close doors behind you to isolate fire.
• Proceed to stairwells for evacuation. 
  • Never use the elevators.
• Be cautious when opening doors so as not to spread the fire.
  • Touch any door to see if it is hot before opening.
• If smoke is present, stay low and crawl with your body against the floor.
  • The clearest air is near the floor. If forced to make a dash through smoke or flame, hold your breath and cover your nose and mouth with an article of clothing.
• If possible, call Building Management and report known details of the fire.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

• DO NOT attempt to fight fire.
• DO NOT USE ELEVATORS.
• DO use stairwell(s) as exit(s) only.
• If caught in heavy smoke:
  • Crawl on the floor to exit.
  • Take short breaths.
  • Breathe through your nose.
  • The air tends to be less smokey along the floor!

A simple acronym to remember what to do upon the detection of smoke and/or fire is the R-A-C-E plan described below:

• Rescue / Remove person(s) from the scene of the fire / fire-zone
• Alert personnel by activating the nearest fire alarm pull station then call 9-1-1.
• Confine fire and smoke by closing all doors in the area.
• Evacuate the building immediately and, once outside, report to Fire Department Personnel and Building Management.

To operate a fire extinguisher, remember this simple acronym - PASS. PASS stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep:

• Pull the pin at the top of the cylinder.  Some units require the releasing of a lock latch or pressing a puncture lever.
• Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire.
• Squeeze or press the handle.
• Sweep the contents from side to side at the base of the fire until it goes out.

Shut off the extinguisher and then watch carefully for a rekindling of the fire.