Apartment Safety

At Risk At Home: Living Safely In Apartments

Because families in apartment complexes live so close together, there are special areas of concern when it comes to fire safety.

Apartment complexes are simply a series of small, connected homes. It’s important to remember that what you do in your apartment can affect people living six-doors down, or even in the next building.

Special hazards that affect people who live in apartments:

• Often, there is only one way in or out—no back door.
• Stairways are often built entirely of wood. If the stairwell or walkway is on fire, you may not be able to exit through the front door.
• Congested parking can mean blocked fire hydrants and/or blocked fire lanes. A ladder truck can be 8 to 9-feet wide and 50-feet long. A blocked fire lane can slow down response time.
• An apartment building is, in effect, a very densely populated neighborhood. If the downstairs or next-door apartment is on fire, it can spread quickly to adjoining apartments in a matter of minutes.
• Without properly working smoke alarms, it make take a long time before you find out that another part of the apartment building is on fire. Consequently, this could cut your chances of getting out of the building alive.

Tips for Living Safely in Apartment Buildings

• Make sure you have smoke alarms that work.

• The Fire Code requires working smoke alarm(s) in every apartment unit. Existing apartments require smoke alarms in the hallway outside sleeping areas. Newly constructed apartments now require them IN the sleep room, as well. Remember to check the batteries once a month, and replace the batteries once a year.

• The apartment complex is required to have a fire extinguisher within 75-feet travel distance.
• If extinguishers are not provided outside the apartments, then each apartment is required to have one.
• When in use, barbecues should be located on ground level and be a minimum of 5-feet from buildings, structures, covered walkways or roof overhangs.
• Don’t park in front of fire hydrants and don’t park in fire lanes.
• Respecting the fire restrictions may literally save your life. When friends visit, be sure to remind them to park only in appropriate parking areas.
• Never leave smoking materials burning. Never smoke in bed.
• In 2001, the most common cause of apartment fires was careless disposal of smoking materials.
• Have a fire escape plan. Practice it.
• Know at least two ways to get out of your apartment. Pick a family meeting place outside the apartment building. Don’t use elevators (they may take you right into the fire.)
• Make sure there’s a number on your apartment door.
• Keep a copy of your apartment number and apartment building number, inside your apartment, near the phone. The information will then be handy for babysitters, and it will be there if you panic.
• Complex owners and managers need to be sure gated driveways are accessible to firefighters.
• 75-percent of multi-housing complexes are now gated. Work with the fire department to make sure access requirements are met.
• Don’t run extension cords under carpets or from unit-to-unit.
• Get acquainted with the elderly folks in your building.

What to Do if There’s a Fire

• Once out – STAY OUT! Do not go back in for ANY reason.
• Call 9-1-1 from a safe location.
• Give the dispatcher as much accurate information as you can.
• Get out of the apartment.
• Use your fire escape plan. Go to the designated family meeting place.
• Try to let neighbors know to get out. Help elderly folks or families who have many children.
• Have someone meet the fire trucks when they arrive, if it can be done safely.
• Keep the fire lanes open.
• If you can’t get out, use a mobile phone to stay in touch with 9-1-1 dispatchers. Shine a flashlight or wave a sheet out the window to alert firefighters that you’re trapped.
• Stay calm.
• Swimming pools pose a separate hazard for people who live in apartment complexes. Pools must be fenced, and the gates must close and latch on their own. If children use the pool, an adult must always be inside the gate, in the pool area, constantly watching the children.