Fires Can Turn Life-Threatening in 2 Minutes, Plan 2 Exits
Ready.gov says a home fire can become life-threatening in two minutes, and a home can be engulfed in flames in five minutes. Find two ways out of every room ahead of time, so you still have a way out if fire or smoke blocks the main exit, and practice your escape plan twice a year.
Ready.gov also says smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do. This article follows Ready.gov’s home fires page: what to prepare before a fire, how to get out during one and what to do first afterward.
Before a fire
Ready.gov explains (Ready.gov Home Fires):
- Two ways out: find two ways out of every room in case fire or smoke blocks the main exit.
- Practice twice a year: practice the escape plan as a family, including getting out in the dark or with your eyes closed.
- Windows that open: make sure windows aren’t stuck, screens come off quickly and security bars open properly.
- Teach children: not to hide from firefighters.
- Family members with limited mobility: if someone uses a walker or wheelchair, check that they can get through every exit.
- Smoke alarms: install them on every level, including the basement; replace batteries twice a year unless they are 10-year lithium batteries; replace the whole unit every 10 years or as the manufacturer says; never disable one while cooking. Special alarms are available for people who are blind or deaf.
- Other steps: sleep with the bedroom door closed; keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen; consider an automatic sprinkler system.
- Documents: keep digital copies of important documents such as birth certificates.
During a fire
- Crawl low: smoke and toxic gases collect near the ceiling first, so get down low and crawl under the smoke to your exit.
- Feel before you open: feel the door and doorknob first; if either is hot or smoke is coming in around the door, keep it closed and use your second way out. If you open a door, open it slowly and be ready to shut it.
- If you can’t get out: close the door, cover vents and cracks with cloth or tape, call for help and signal from the window with a light-colored cloth or a flashlight.
- If you can’t reach someone: get out, call 911 or the fire department and tell the operator where that person is; tell firefighters about trapped pets too.
- Clothes on fire: stop, drop and roll; if you can’t, smother the flames with a blanket or towel. Treat a burn with cool water right away for 3 to 5 minutes, cover it with a clean, dry cloth and get medical help right away by calling 911 or the fire department.
After a fire
- Get help first: contact disaster relief groups such as the Red Cross about temporary housing, food and medicine.
- Check with the fire department: don’t go back inside until the fire department says so.
- Don’t reconnect utilities yourself: the fire department should confirm the utilities are safe or disconnected.
- Inventory before you throw out: list and record damaged items before throwing them away.
- Keep receipts: keep receipts for fire-related spending; your insurer or your tax filing may need them.
- If you have a mortgage: notify your mortgage company.
For where to put smoke alarms and how often to test them, see Smoke and CO Alarms on Each Level, Test Smoke Alarms Monthly; to agree on a family meeting place, see Family Emergency Plan in 4 Steps, Pick a Meeting Place First; for what goes in an emergency kit, see Emergency Kits, 1 Gallon of Water a Day Each, Food for Days.
What this article doesn’t cover
- Rental rules: whether landlords must provide alarms or extinguishers isn’t on this page, so this article doesn’t cover it.
- Insurance claims: the page only says to contact your insurer and take inventory; this article didn’t look into how claims are paid.
- Taxes: this article didn’t look into how fire losses are handled on taxes and gives no tax advice.
FAQ
How fast does a fire become dangerous?
Ready.gov says it can become life-threatening in two minutes, and a home can be engulfed in flames in five minutes.
How often should we practice the escape plan?
Ready.gov recommends twice a year, including getting out in the dark or with your eyes closed.
How often should smoke alarm batteries be replaced?
Twice a year, unless they are 10-year lithium batteries; replace the whole unit every 10 years or as the manufacturer says.
Can I go back in right after the fire to get my things?
Ready.gov says to check with the fire department before going in, and not to reconnect utilities yourself; the fire department should confirm they are safe.
Sources and date checked
All checked on 2026-11-01.
- Ready.gov, Home Fires (page updated 2026-02-26):https://www.ready.gov/home-fires