In an Emergency, call 911
Fires can be extremely dangerous. Nationally, over a dozen people will die on college campuses each year due to fire. The most important thing is to do your best to avoid starting a fire by practicing preventative precautions at all times.
Fire Safety
In the event a fire starts in your building or home, you should always know the location of your exit routes, fire extinguishers and emergency fire alarms.
Fire Safety
In the event a fire starts in your building or home, you should always know the location of your exit routes, fire extinguishers and emergency fire alarms.
Know your escape plan
In the event of a fire, remember – time is the biggest enemy and every second counts! Escape plans help you get out of your home, office or classroom quickly. In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for a building to fill with thick black smoke or become engulfed in flames.
Practice fire drills
Pay attention to fire alarms and participate in practice fire drills on a regular basis. Become familiar with stairway exits – elevators may not function during a fire, or may expose passengers to heat, gas and smoke. New employees should discuss how they should respond to emergencies with their supervisors soon after they start work. All employees must understand what actions they are to take in the work area and where to assemble in a safe zone.
Learn to use a fire extinguisher
In addition to having working smoke/fire detectors, all buildings should have fire extinguishers, and the occupants of the buildings should be trained in how to properly use them.
Fires can grow quickly, so anytime a decision is made to try to fight a fire with a fire extinguisher, it is important to be aware of this possibility and abandon efforts in favor of escape if the fire has grown to a size of several feet or more.
For more information about fires or how to use a fire extinguisher, contact the NMSU Fire Department at 575-646-2519 or e-mail fire@nmsu.edu
