THIS FIRE SAFETY GUIDE IS
PREPARED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
BE SMART
BE SAFE
KNOWLEDGE IS SAFETY
FIRE SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR HIGH-RISE
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
From NYC Fire
Department
FIRE IN HIGH-RISE
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
A fire in a high-rise residential building can
usually be confined to the apartment where it starts. However,
smoke and heat can travel throughout the building, especially
upward.
High-rise residential buildings (usually ones
with eight floors or more) are constructed of masonry and steel
and are considered to be fireproof. Most of what is inside the
buildings, including your furnishings and belongings, can burn and
produce a tremendous amount of heat and smoke.
IF THERE IS A FIRE
Stay Calm.
Do Not Use the Elevator
IF THE FIRE IS IN YOUR APARTMENT
Get everyone out. Stay low as you go out.
Close, but don't lock, all doors in the apartment as you leave.
Alert others on the floor by knocking on
doors. Activate the fire alarm if there is one.
Go down the nearest STAIRWAY, holding the
railing.
Call the Fire Department from a floor
BELOW THE FIRE or from a street fire alarm box outside.
IF THE FIRE IS NOT IN YOUR APARTMENT
Stay inside
rather than entering smoke filled-hallways,
especially if the fire is above your apartment.
Keep your door closed.
Seal the door with duct tape or wet
sheets and towels. Seal ventilators and any other openings where
smoke may enter.
Turn off air conditioner.
Fill your bathtub with water. If the
front door gets hot, wet it down.
Unless flames or smoke are coming from
below, open your windows a few inches at the top or bottom.
Don't break the windows; they may need to be closed later.
Call the Fire Department with your
apartment number and a description of the conditions in your
apartment. Firefighters will be directed to your location.
WAYS TO KEEP YOUR APARTMENT FIRE-SAFE
Never keep rubbish in the hallway. Make
sure it is stored properly and collected regularly.
Don't put items in the trash chute that
are too big and may get stuck. Things caught in the chute can
easily turn a fire in the basement into a fire on your floor.
Be careful not to overload electrical
circuits-short circuits are the cause of many fires.
Cook with care. Keep baking soda handy to
smother stove fires.
Never smoke in bed and make sure that
there are no smoldering butts when you empty ashtrays.
Test smoke detectors weekly and replace
batteries every year. It will help to remember this important
task if you change the batteries when you change your clocks for
daylight savings time, or on your birthday.
Make sure that your apartment door is
tight-fitting and complies with the fire code.
Inspect your exit stair doors. They must
be self-closing, snap shut and unlock from both sides. If they
don't meet this standard, report it to the superintendent or the
Fire Department.
PLANNING AHEAD CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE
Things to Know
The layout of your floor.
The location of stair exits.
The number of doors between your
apartment and the exit stairs. This is essential knowledge to
find the exit in the dark.
Where your apartment key is located. Take
the key with you if you are forced to evacuate.
The location of fire alarm boxes (if your building has
them).
Things to Do
Keep the number of the Fire Department near each telephone.
Write it down now.
Manhattan: 212-999-2222
Or dial 911
Keep flashlights ready and in a handy
place.
Install and maintain smoke detectors.
Owners of high-rise buildings are required by law to install one
detector in each apartment, but its maintenance is up to you.
Change smoke detector batteries annually.
It will help to remember this important task if you change the
batteries when you change your clocks for daylight savings time,
or on your birthday.
Report fire hazards to your
superintendent. Blocked exits, piled-up trash, missing exit
lights and open fire doors are violations of law. If your
superintendent doesn't correct them, call the Fire Department at
718-999-2533 and report the condition. Your life may depend on
getting the violations corrected.
