For Parents, Seniors & Renters

Make it a game, make it routine, and practice it until it's automatic. Young children won't figure this out on their own in a real emergency. They need to have rehearsed it.

What to teach:

1. "That sound means GO." Let your kids hear what the smoke alarm sounds like by pressing the test button. Explain that this sound means get out of the house right now, no stopping, no hiding.
2. Roll out of bed, get low, and go. Teach them to roll off the bed (not stand up into smoke), stay low where the air is cleaner, and crawl to their exit. Practice this in their actual bedroom.
3. Feel the door. Before opening a closed door, feel it with the back of your hand. If it's hot, don't open it. Use the window or another way out.
4. Go to the meeting spot. Everyone goes to the same place outside (mailbox, neighbor's driveway, specific tree). Don't go back inside for anything.

Practice tips:

• Practice your escape drill at least twice a year, once during the day, once at night.
• Actually set off the smoke alarm (test button) so they associate the real sound with the action.
• Time it. Kids enjoy trying to beat their time. It also shows you how long it actually takes.
• Plenty of children sleep straight through a standard smoke alarm. If your child is a deep sleeper, practice waking them with the alarm and getting them moving. Voice-alert smoke alarms, which announce "Fire! Get out!" in a parent's recorded voice, wake some children that a tone-only alarm does not.

We cover this in detail in our Emergency Preparedness section under "What should I teach my children about fire safety and emergencies?" Here's the quick version by age:

All ages:

• Firefighters are helpers, don't hide from them, even when they're wearing scary masks and gear.
• Matches and lighters are for adults only. If you find one, tell a grown-up.
• Get out and stay out. Never go back inside a burning building.

Ages 5+:

• Know your home address and how to call 911.
• Stop, drop, and roll if your clothes catch fire.
• Know two ways out of every room.
• Know the family meeting spot outside.
• Feel the door before opening it. If it's hot, use another way out.

Ages 10+:

• That fire extinguishers are for adults, not children; a kid's job is alerting an adult, getting out, and calling 911.
• What a gas leak smells like (rotten eggs) and what to do (leave the house, don't flip any switches, call 911 from outside).

The most effective way to teach fire safety to kids isn't a one-time lecture. It's regular practice. Walk through your escape plan, test the smoke alarms together, and talk about what you'd do in different scenarios. Make it part of normal family life.

This is completely normal, and it's actually one of the most important fire safety issues for young children. A child who is terrified of a firefighter in full gear may hide from the very person who's trying to rescue them.

Why kids are scared: A firefighter in full gear, wearing an air mask, looks and sounds nothing like a normal person. The face is hidden behind a mask, the breathing is loud (like Darth Vader), and the whole figure looks large and alien. In a dark, smoky room, this can be genuinely terrifying to a small child.

What you can do:

• Show them pictures and videos of firefighters putting on gear piece by piece. Let them see that there's a regular person underneath. YouTube has many kid-friendly videos of this.
• Visit the fire station. Many fire departments (including ours) welcome families to come see the trucks, meet the firefighters, and watch them put on gear in a calm, non-emergency setting. Call ahead to arrange a visit.
• Let them touch the gear. If they can hold a helmet, feel the coat, or try on a pair of gloves, it becomes less scary.
• Practice the sound. Find audio clips of a firefighter breathing through an air mask and play them for your child so the sound is familiar. Explain: "That sound means a firefighter is breathing. They wear a mask so they can breathe in the smoke."
• Teach them to go TO the firefighter, not away. Practice this: "If you hear the smoke alarm and someone in a big coat and mask comes to your room, go to them. They're coming to help you."

Children who hide from firefighters during a fire are much harder to locate and rescue. Taking 20 minutes to familiarize your child with a firefighter in gear could save their life.

Older adults are far more likely to die in a home fire than the general population. Reduced mobility, slower reaction times, hearing loss, medications that cause drowsiness, and living alone all increase risk. The good news is that a few targeted changes make a big difference.

Highest-impact changes:

• Smoke alarms that work for you. Standard alarms may not wake someone who is hard of hearing. Install alarms with both loud tones and strobe lights, or bed-shaker attachments that vibrate the mattress. Test them monthly.
• Cooking safety. Cooking is the #1 cause of home fires for all ages. Never leave the stove unattended. Wear close-fitting sleeves while cooking. Loose clothing can catch fire. If you tend to forget things on the stove, use a timer every time, or consider an auto-shutoff stove device.
• Heating safety. Keep space heaters 3 feet from anything flammable and turn them off when leaving the room or going to bed. Never use an extension cord with a space heater.
• Smoking. If you smoke, smoke outside. Use deep, sturdy ashtrays. Never smoke in bed, in a recliner, or when drowsy. Smoking materials are the leading cause of fire deaths for older adults.
• Clear pathways. Keep hallways, doorways, and exits clear of clutter. In an emergency, you need a clear path out, especially if you use a walker or wheelchair.
• Bedside readiness. Keep glasses, hearing aids, a phone, and a flashlight within arm's reach of the bed. If you need these things to function, you need them immediately in an emergency.

Also consider a medical alert device (wearable button) that lets you call for help even if you can't reach a phone.

If you have limited mobility and can't escape on your own, the strategy shifts from "get out" to "shelter in place and make sure firefighters know where you are."

If you can't get out:

1. Close the door. A closed door is your best defense. It holds back fire and smoke, and keeps the air behind it survivable for far longer than an open room. Get into a room with a door you can close, preferably one with a window.
2. Seal the gap under the door. Use a towel, blanket, or clothing to block smoke from coming under the door.
3. Call 911. Tell them you're trapped, your exact location in the building (floor, room, which side of the building), and that you can't get out on your own. Stay on the line.
4. Go to the window. Open it for fresh air if needed. Wave a brightly colored cloth or sheet to signal firefighters. If you can yell, yell. Anything that tells rescuers where you are.
5. Stay low. Smoke rises, so the clearest air is near the floor.

Plan ahead:

• If you live in a multi-story building without an elevator, your plan should assume you may need to shelter in place. Talk to us about it. We can help you plan.
• Tell your neighbors about your situation. In a fire, a neighbor who can tell arriving firefighters "there's someone on the second floor who can't get to the stairs" can save your life.
• Consider a bedroom on the ground floor if possible.

Firefighters are trained to search for and rescue people who can't get out on their own. Your job is to stay behind a closed door and let us know where you are.

If you're the adult child or caregiver of an older person, there are practical steps you can take, even if you don't live with them.

During your next visit, check these things:

• Smoke alarms. Test every alarm. Replace batteries. If the alarms are more than 10 years old, replace them entirely. Install alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level. If your parent is hard of hearing, get alarms with strobe lights or bed-shaker attachments.
• Cooking habits. Is the stove area clean and free of clutter (dish towels, paper, packaging)? Does your parent tend to leave the stove unattended? If forgetfulness is a concern, an auto-shutoff stove device is a worthwhile investment.
• Heating. Check space heaters for frayed cords and proper clearance. Make sure nothing is draped over or stored near heating equipment.
• Smoking. If your parent smokes, encourage outdoor smoking. Check for burn marks on furniture or carpet, which indicate dropped cigarettes. Provide deep, sturdy ashtrays.
• Clutter and trip hazards. Clear pathways to all exits. Remove stacked newspapers, magazines, and boxes. These are both a fire hazard and an escape obstacle.
• Escape plan. Walk through the escape routes with them. Can they physically get to and through the exits? Is there a second way out of the bedroom?
• Emergency contacts. Make sure they have a phone (charged) within reach at all times. Program 911 and your number for quick access.

If they live alone:

• Check in regularly, especially during cold weather when heating fire risk increases.
• Make sure at least one neighbor has a key and knows your parent's situation.
• Consider a medical alert device so they can call for help with the push of a button.

This conversation can feel awkward. Nobody wants to imply their parent can't take care of themselves. Frame it as something you'd do for anyone you love: "Let me check your smoke alarms while I'm here." It doesn't need to be a big deal.

Fire safety in a rental property is a shared responsibility, but the lines aren't always obvious. Here's who's typically responsible for what under Pennsylvania law and standard practice:

Landlord responsibilities:

• Smoke alarms. What the landlord must provide depends on the building and on local code rather than a single statewide rule. Many municipalities adopt a property maintenance code that covers it, and multi-unit buildings may need a fire alarm system depending on the building code. Ask the township or the borough what applies where you live.
• Fire exits. All exits must be accessible and unobstructed. Exit signs and emergency lighting must work in multi-unit buildings. Fire escapes must be maintained.
• Building systems. Electrical wiring, heating systems, and fire suppression systems (sprinklers, if present) are the landlord's responsibility to maintain.
• Carbon monoxide detectors. Any unit with a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage needs one. Requirements for rentals differ, so ask the township or the borough if you're not sure whose job it is.

Renter responsibilities:

• Battery replacement. If your smoke alarm or CO detector uses replaceable batteries, replacing dead batteries is usually your responsibility (check your lease).
• Not disabling alarms. Removing batteries from or covering a smoke alarm because it goes off while cooking is one of the most dangerous things renters do. If the alarm is overly sensitive, ask the landlord to relocate it. Don't disable it.
• Safe behavior. Cooking safely, proper use of space heaters, not blocking exits with furniture or storage, safe candle use, and proper disposal of smoking materials.
• Reporting problems. If you notice a broken alarm, a blocked exit, a malfunctioning heater, or any fire hazard, report it to your landlord in writing.
• Renters insurance. Your landlord's insurance covers the building, not your belongings. Renters insurance is your responsibility and typically costs very little.

Living in a multi-unit building means a fire in someone else's unit can directly threaten you. You're also sharing your fire safety with neighbors whose habits you can't control. That makes preparation even more important.

Key things to know:

• Know two ways out of your unit, and two ways out of the building. If the stairwell nearest your apartment is full of smoke, where's the other one? Walk both routes so you know them without thinking.
• Never use elevators during a fire. Elevators can fill with smoke, lose power, or open on the fire floor. Always use the stairs.
• Know where the fire alarm pull stations are. They're usually near stairwell doors. If there's a fire (or you smell smoke), pull the alarm as you leave.
• Close your apartment door behind you when evacuating. Don't lock it (firefighters may need to get in), but close it. A closed door slows fire spread into the hallway and protects other units.
• If you can't get out. Stay in your unit. Close all doors. Seal the gap under the door with wet towels. Call 911 and tell them exactly which unit you're in. Go to the window and signal for help. See our Apartments & Shared Buildings section for more detail.
• Fire escapes. If your building has a fire escape, make sure you can access it. Don't store anything on it. Make sure the window opens easily and isn't painted shut.

In buildings without central fire alarms: Many smaller apartment buildings, duplexes, and townhouse rows don't have a building-wide alarm system. Your unit's smoke alarm only alerts you, not your neighbors. If there's a fire, bang on doors and yell as you leave to alert others. See our shared buildings FAQ for more on this scenario.

This is a serious safety issue, and you shouldn't ignore it. Blocked exits and non-working fire alarms are among the most common fire code violations, and among the most deadly.

What to do:

1. Report it to your landlord in writing. Email is best because it creates a record. Describe the specific problem: "The hallway exit on the second floor is blocked by storage furniture," or "The smoke alarm in the hallway outside my unit has been chirping for three weeks and is no longer working." Keep a copy of your communication.
2. Give the landlord reasonable time to fix it. A broken smoke alarm or blocked exit should be fixed quickly, within days, not weeks. If the landlord doesn't respond, follow up in writing again.
3. If the landlord doesn't act:
   • Contact code enforcement. The township or the borough can point you to the right person. Code enforcement can inspect the property and require the landlord to fix violations.
   • Ask who enforces the fire code where you live. In Pennsylvania that authority sits with the municipality under the Uniform Construction Code, either through its own code official or through a third-party agency it has designated. The township or the borough will tell you which it is.
   • Contact the PA Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection if the issue involves habitability or the landlord is retaliating against you for reporting.

In the meantime:

• Make sure your own unit has working smoke alarms. Buy your own if you have to; they cost very little.
• Know your alternate escape routes. If one exit is blocked, make sure you know exactly how to reach the other.
• Don't prop open fire doors. They're there to stop the spread of fire and smoke through the building.

Pennsylvania law obliges a landlord to keep a rental safe and sanitary and to meet the local building and housing codes that bear on health and safety. What that covers for fire equipment in your building comes down to that local code and to your lease.