Apartment buildings designed and built to keep you safe in a fire
Posted Jan 10, 2022 10:30:00 PM.
As New Yorkers come to grips with the aftermath of that city's deadliest fire in decades, local fire officials are emphasizing the need for people here at home to brush up on their own fire safety plans.
At least 17 died including eight children after a fire broke out at an apartment building in the Bronx over the weekend. Earlier reports had suggested as many as 19 people had died but that number was updated on Monday. New York's mayor says 15 people are in critical condition.
The fire has led to new light being shone on the importance of knowing what to do in the event you are in an apartment or other high-rise building when fire breaks out.
“Apartment buildings are very safe from fires but the important thing is you have to understand how they're designed to protect you,” said Linda Adam, Fire Prevention Officer with Waterloo Fire Rescue.
Adam says apartments and other similar buildings are built with materials which make them more resistant to fire than wood-construction homes.
“In Ontario we have a stay-or-go policy in these buildings and the reason that's there is because every situation is different,” said Adam. “Whether you're going to leave during a fire or stay can be situational.
When fire breaks out in a unit, Adam says the unit itself should have its own smoke alarms to alert the occupants of that unit to take action or get out. She says the occupant can then also exit into the hallway and pull the building's fire alarm which will help notify others of the potential danger.
“What you don't want to have is that you ignore that alarm which unfortunately they say even after three to five false alarms people start to ignore their fire alarm system,” Adam said, suggesting if you live in a building which is prone to false alarms you reach out to building management to find out why.
“The other thing is if you take them seriously each time and respond as though it's a real fire, getting yourself outside to safety, down the stairs and outside, it really is the safest place to be if there is a fire emergency,” she said.
Back to the 'stay-or-go' policy, Adam says while being outside is the safest place for you to be during a fire, you may need to hunker down if you can't get there safely.
“If you miss that first early warning, the bells start to ring and you miss them somehow and now the hallways and stairways are full of smoke, than escaping and trying to go down and out, you may have already missed your opportunity,” Adam said.
“Provided the fire's not in your unit directly, what you might have to do is stop smoke from entering your unit and if you have a window or balcony you can go there for safety, for fresh air.”
Adam also says even if you can see fire trucks have arrived from your window or balcony, you should still dial 911 to let them know you're still inside.
She says one of the most important things to do any time you move into a new building is simply to get to know it and its fire safety plan.
“I would definitely encourage residents to talk to building managers and ask to find out about the fire safety plan and make sure they have copies of the relevant pages they are required to receive,” Adam said.
“Become familiar with the building, it's important to look around for exits and maybe walk those exits,” she said. “Keep in mind that in a fire emergency things can happen quickly and you have to make your choices.”
“If I told you that you were going to have a fire in your unit tonight, picture that situation and imagine 'what would I do?'.”
