Survival guide

What to do in a house fire

Reviewed · By SOS.city, made by the people for the people · Sources listed below
In an emergency, call 911

Get out right away and stay out. Ready.gov warns a fire can become life-threatening in just two minutes. Shout “Fire!” as you go, feel doors before you open them, stay low under smoke, meet at your spot outside and call 911 from there. Never go back in.

What to do right now

  1. Get out now. Shout “Fire!” on the way. Don't stop for belongings.
  2. Feel the door with the back of your hand. Hot? Use your second way out.
  3. No safe way out? Close the door, stuff cloth in the gaps, call 911, wave a light or cloth at the window.
  4. Smoke? Get low and go under it to the exit.
  5. Meet at your spot out front. Call 911 from outside.
  6. Never go back in.

Remember: You may have less than 2 minutes. Get out, stay out.

Also: Small pan fire: slide a lid over it, turn off the burner and leave the lid on until it's cool. Never water. If in doubt, get out.

Why you have so little time

Ready.gov: a fire can become life-threatening in just two minutes, and a home can be engulfed in flames in five minutes.

Practice: the fire escape drill

Goal: Everyone out and at the meeting spot in under 2 minutes.

  1. Walk the house: find two ways out of every room.
  2. Pick a meeting spot out front: a tree, a mailbox, a neighbor's gate.
  3. Someone shouts “Fire drill!” Everyone leaves by the nearest way and meets at the spot.
  4. Run it again at night with the lights off and flashlights only.

You may have less than 2 minutes to get out of a burning home.

Get ready before it happens

  • Make the home safer: Test the smoke alarms. Fit a carbon monoxide alarm with battery backup. Check the fire extinguisher.
  • Keep a lid by the stove for pan fires.

Questions people ask

How long do you have to get out of a house fire?

Plan on less than two minutes. Ready.gov says a fire can become life-threatening in just two minutes, and a home can be engulfed in flames in five.

Should you open a door during a fire?

Feel the door with the back of your hand first. If it is hot, use your second way out.

What if you can’t get out?

No safe way out? Close the door, stuff cloth in the gaps, call 911, wave a light or cloth at the window.

How do you put out a pan fire?

Slide a lid over it, turn off the burner and leave the lid on until it is cool. Never use water. If in doubt, get out.

Sources

Every step on this page comes from these sources. We check them when we review the page.

General safety information, not medical advice. Always follow instructions from local officials and 911 dispatchers.

Related guides

Carbon monoxide poisoningIt has no smell. People asleep can die before they notice.WildfireLeave early. Don't wait to see flames.Power outageNever heat with a grill, an oven or a generator indoors.All survival guides12 emergencies, one page each.

Guides and kits that cover this

The 72-Hour AtlasThe rule for this emergency on one page, plus your household’s 72-hour plan. $12.00.The Guide LibraryThe 72-Hour Atlas, The Field Manual and The Go-Bag Kit together. $39.00.