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Three generations forced to flee as their house catches fire

Announcement posted by Smoke Alarm Solutions 13 Oct 2015

In the early hours of Monday morning, a family of four miraculously managed to flee their home safely and remain unharmed after a fire, that took two fire trucks, ten firemen and five hours to contain, burnt their backyard and garage down.
The fire started in the garage and backyard where no smoke alarms can be installed. If not for the family being awake to hear the gas cylinders exploding, the fire would have consumed their house in minutes, leaving little to no time for them to escape unharmed. With droughts and bushfires expected over the next few months, having a home safety evacuation plan in the event of a house fire or bushfire, is a necessity that should not be ignored.

Why an evacuation plan is necessary
- Smoke can be disorientating
- The sound of the smoke alarm can create a surge of adrenaline, which may cause panic
- You are more likely to panic trying to get out if you haven't thought about the possibility beforehand
- Worrying about everyone else will delay your own escape
- The speed of the fire and toxicity of the smoke means that you do not have the time to try and think and remember your way around the house.      You need to be able to act

Putting an evacuation plan together
- Walk through your house and inspect all possible exits and escape routes
- Draw a floor plan and make sure that is also marks where the smoke alarms are located. You can download an escape planning grid from your  relevant government website
- Choose an outside meeting place that is located a safe distance from the house
- Make sure your street number is clearly marked and visible from the street for emergency services
- Ensure that all occupants have memorised the emergency number for the fire brigades as well as the home address
- If there are any infants or people with a disability assign them a buddy who will be able to look after them and help them escape
- If the windows or doors have security bars make sure that the bars have an emergency release so they can be opened immediately from the inside
- Once you are out of the house- stay out!

Make sure to practice your home fire escape plan twice a year.