Apartment and Condominium Fire Safety
People living in a high-rise apartment or condominium building need to think ahead and be prepared in the event of a fire. It is important to know the fire safety features in your building and work together with neighbours to help keep the building as fire-safe as possible.
Be Prepared!
- Know the fire safety features in your building and the emergency procedures outlined in the building’s fire safety plan
- Know the locations of all available exit stairs from your floor in case the nearest one is blocked by fire or smoke
- Make sure all exit and stairwell doors are clearly marked, not locked or blocked by security bars and clear of clutter
- Building management should hold a fire drill with occupants at least once a year - be sure to participate when your building drills take place
- Speak to your building or property manager if you see a damaged smoke alarm or fire extinguisher, an emergency light that has burned out, or combustibles in the hallways or exits
- If you require assistance to evacuate in an emergency, be sure to notify the property or building manager to add your name to the list in the building's fire safety plan
- If you rent, it is the property owner’s responsibility to ensure that each residential unit is provided with a working smoke alarm, replace the batteries and test the alarms. It is the duty of the tenant to notify the landlord as soon as they become aware that a smoke alarm may not be working properly
What Should I do if There is a Fire?
Most of the time, the best thing to do in a fire is leave the building as soon as possible. But in some cases you may not be able to leave and you may have to stay in your apartment. For instance, if you are not able to use the stairs to evacuate or there is smoke or fire in the hallway, you will need to stay inside your unit. Whether you decide to stay or go, you must act quickly and protect yourself from the smoke.
| If There is a Fire in Your Unit |
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| If You Decide to Leave When You Hear The Fire Alarm |
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| If You Can't Get Out of Your Unit, or You Decide to Stay |
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Protect yourself from smoke if you can't exit your unit safely. Remember that the longer you wait, the more likely there will be heavy smoke in hallways and stairways so DO NOT try to leave after the alarm has been sounding for a long time. Follow these steps when you stay in your unit during a fire:
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| If Smoke Enters Your Unit |
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Call Richmond Hill's Fire Prevention Division at 905-883-5444 for more information. Richmond Hill Fire and Emergency Services offers free High-Rise Fire Safety resident information sessions.