How to Make Your Home Accessible to Firefighters in Case of a Fire
- 1). Keep back fences shut, but avoid putting heavy locks on them, which can make it difficult for firefighters to access the backyard in an emergency.
- 2). Avoid putting Tot finder and Pet finder stickers on windows. Contrary to popular belief, these stickers can cause firefighters to enter a burning home unnecessarily. Sometimes people forget to remove stickers in a new home purchase, or forget to take stickers off when a pet dies. Firefighters don't want to risk their lives unnecessarily. It's better to alert firefighters about trapped children or pets through verbal notification.
- 3). Make sure home address numbers are visible and readable from the street. Numbers should be painted on your curb, as well as placed on your home.
- 4). Keep doors to the garage, laundry room and kitchen shut at night. Should a fire break out, the smoke detectors should go off, but a shut door can save the house and people from fire. Likewise, sleep with bedroom doors closed, but make sure each family member knows how to test the door before opening it, in case of a fire (see Tips).
- 5). Forego installing security bars on bedroom windows unless they have releases from the inside.
Source...