Fire Department

604 - What To Do In Case of Fire

 Should you find yourself confronted with a fire, there are certain steps that should be taken. These tactics vary according to the size and type of the fire. The Santa Monica Fire Department offers these recommendations for dealing with fires:

• Use a fire extinguisher to put out only small fires. Do not try to put out a fire that is getting out of control. If you're not sure you can control it, or you do not know how to use an extinguisher, get everyone out of the house, close the doors, and call 911 from a neighbor's house.
• Never use water on an electrical fire. Use only a fire extinguisher approved for electrical fires.
• Smother oil and grease fires in the kitchen with baking soda or salt, or put a lid over the flame if it is burning in a pan.
• If your clothes catch on fire, stop, drop and roll until the fire is extinguished. Running only makes the fire burn faster.
• Sleep with your door closed. If you wake up to the sound of a smoke detector, feel the bottom of the door with the palm of your hand before you open it. If the door is cool, leave immediately. Be prepared to crawl. Smoke and heat rise, and the air is clearer and cooler near the floor. If the door is hot, escape through a window. If you cannot escape, hang a white or light-colored sheet outside the window, alerting fire fighters to your presence. Seal off the space at the bottom of the door with a towel to prevent smoke from entering.