Home fire escape planning: The basics

by Hannah Sosinski 01/29/2024

House fires can happen at any time, no matter how careful you are with fire prevention. Having a home fire escape plan offers peace of mind and a way to make sure your household can get out of your home safely. Knowing how to create one of these plans should be part of your fire safety and prevention measures. Keep the following tips in mind for setting up your home fire escape plan.

Draw your floor plan

To determine the safest ways to leave your home in the event of a fire, it helps to have a drawing to reference. Draw your home's floor plan on a piece of paper, so you can clearly mark where house members should exit, depending on where a fire occurs. Label all the rooms on your floor plan, so everyone knows which rooms or areas to use.

Plan two escape routes

Having one escape route might not help if a fire breaks out in an area you didn't plan for. Always determine two different escape routes for all household members. For example, where will your escape route be if a fire occurs on the upper level or the lower level? Planning this out in advance helps ensure each member of your household has a safe way to get out of the house no matter where a fire occurs.

Decide on a meeting place

Part of your fire escape plan should include deciding on a meeting place outside your home. Know exactly where to go once everyone's safely outside the house. Keep in mind this meeting place should be located far enough away from your home in case of a major fire.

Practice your home fire escape plan

Putting your home fire escape plan into practice can help you make changes to it as needed. When you run through these plans as part of a fire drill, you might notice certain escape routes don't work. You can then make adjustments to your home fire escape plan to improve it and ensure your household's safety. Practice your escape plan twice a year or more often if needed.

About the Author
Author

Hannah Sosinski

 I started my career in the real estate industry at the age of sixteen and instantly fell in love.

I worked alongside one of the top producing agents in the country as their administrative assistant for nearly nine years before I took the leap to begin my own journey in the real estate industry.
Working alongside an agent who sells over three hundred houses a year educated me strongly on the Pittsburgh and greater Pittsburgh housing market. While working alongside this agent, I was lucky enough to be involved in several different types of real estate transactions and learned to properly determine home values, many aspects of negotiations and have learned how to close challenging deals while also handling a large amount of deals at the same time.

I have also spent the past seven years working as a property manager throughout Allegheny, Washington and Fayette County. I have managed everything from Section 8 to Luxury units.

Exploring the options of the real estate industry can be overwhelming. While working with me you’re able to sit back and relax as I have worked with many investors, home sellers and buyers and can help guide through the sale or purchase of your home and make it as easy on you as possible.

Whether you’re a first time home owner, downsizing, sizing up, looking to make your first/second or third investment, selling your home, etc. I can use my years of education to help guide you through the purchase or sale of the largest investment of your life.

I look forward to chatting about real estate with you!