Close the Door

This week's focused fire prevention topic is : Close the Door!

In the event of a fire, closing your bedroom door can give you and your family more time to escape using a secondary exit! A closed door stalls the spreading of smoke, heat, toxic gases, and even flames.

If you believe there is a fire, avoid grabbing the door handle. Feel the door with the back of your hand. If it is normal temperature, you may open the door and escape. If it is hot, use your second exit to escape the building and leave the door closed.

A fire needs heat, fuel, and oxygen to exist. Closing the doors within your home creates a barrier that can cut off the oxygen and stop the growth of fire, it also keeps more oxygen within the room, allowing more time to escape.

This is also why having two exits out of every room is very important. There may be a situation that the primary exit (the door) cannot be opened safely, and you will need to use the secondary exit.

To find out more information visit our website mdlifesafety.org or visit UL's closeyourdoor.org.