Fire Safety Will You Survive in a Structure Fire? The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates that a structure fire occurs each minute. If your home was next, would you be protected and know what to do? A recent survey done by NFPA showed that most people mistakenly believe that it takes 10 minutes or more for a fire to create a life-threatening condition. The reality is that fire can block escape routes and produce toxic fumes in under 2 minutes! The time-lapse graph shows how fire develops, beginning with ignition in a couch located on the first-floor of a home. Notice that at 4 minutes and 33 seconds (4:33), the point at which the fire is now visible from the outside, the first-floor room where the fire started is now over 1400 degrees and entirely engulfed with flames! To increase your chances of surviving a fire, three things are absolutely vital: recognize how quickly fire spreads, maintain WORKING smoke alarms in your home, and develop a home fire escape plan. Smoke Alarms Working smoke alarms double your chances of surviving a fire. Install smoke alarms on each level of your home, between the living areas and bedrooms. For additional protection, install alarms in each bedroom. Check your alarms monthly by pressing the "test" button and change the batteries annually if you do not have long-life battery-operated type smoke alarms. Click here to read more about 10-year smoke alarms and Oregon's Law. (.PDF File - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) Home Fire Escape Plan Just-awakened people, especially children, are often confused and may panic during a fire. Prepare for the unexpected by developing and practicing a home fire escape plan. Click here for more tips on how to create a fire escape plan. (.PDF File - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) Your plan should include two ways out of every room, especially the bedrooms. If you have a multi-story home, you may want to purchase a fire escape ladder. Your plan should also include a meeting place outside, in front of your home. Practice your plan at least twice a year and remember, "Once Out, Stay Out!" Do not go back inside for pets or toys. For additional information on smoke alarms or home fire escape planning, visit Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue's website or contact them at (503) 649-8577. For More Tips on Fire Safety in Your Home Read our brochure "Fire Safety in Your Home". (.PDF File - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) Print out a copy for quick reference any time. (Source: 1997 NFPA Escape Survey/Graph)