HIGH‑RISE FIRE SAFETY: KNOW YOUR OPTIONS — EVACUATE OR SHELTER IN PLACE ✅ HIGH-RISE FIRE SAFETY: KNOW YOUR OPTIONS EVACUATE OR SHELTER IN PLACE

 HIGH‑RISE FIRE SAFETY: KNOW YOUR OPTIONS — EVACUATE OR SHELTER IN PLACE ✅

HIGH-RISE FIRE SAFETY: KNOW YOUR OPTIONS EVACUATE OR SHELTER IN PLACE

1. Introduction

Fire emergencies in high-rise buildings present unique challenges due to the building height, large number of occupants, vertical movement, smoke migration, limited evacuation routes, and potential difficulties for people requiring assistance.

During a fire emergency, there is no single response that is appropriate for every situation. The correct action depends on the location of the fire, the presence of smoke, the availability of safe escape routes, the building's fire protection systems, and instructions provided by trained emergency personnel.

The two principal response options are:

EVACUATE — when a safe evacuation route is available.

SHELTER IN PLACE — when evacuation is unsafe or the designated emergency plan instructs occupants to remain in a protected location.

The priority in every situation is to protect life, avoid exposure to fire and smoke, raise the alarm, and follow the building's approved emergency procedures.

2. IF YOU DISCOVER A FIRE

If you discover fire, smoke, or an unusual burning smell:

Raise the Alarm

• Immediately activate the nearest manual fire alarm, where provided.
• Warn people in the immediate area without putting yourself at risk.
• Notify the building emergency control room/security team or emergency services according to the site's emergency procedure.
• Clearly communicate the building, floor, room/area, and nature of the emergency.

Do Not Take Unnecessary Risks

• Do not attempt to fight a fire unless you are trained, authorized, and the fire is small and conditions are safe.
• Never allow firefighting efforts to delay evacuation.
• If smoke or fire is rapidly increasing, leave immediately.

3. OPTION ONE — EVACUATE

When Should You Evacuate?

Evacuation should be considered when:

• Your designated escape route is clear and safe.
• Fire or smoke is affecting your area.
• The building fire alarm or emergency instructions require evacuation.
• Emergency personnel instruct occupants to leave.
• Remaining in the affected area presents a greater risk than moving to a designated safe location.

Use Designated Emergency Stairways

When evacuating a high-rise building:

1. Remain calm and move promptly.
2. Use the designated fire escape stairs.
3. Follow emergency exit signs and instructions.
4. Keep moving and do not obstruct the stairway.
5. Hold handrails where appropriate.
6. Allow emergency responders to pass.
7. Close doors behind you where practical, without locking them.
8. Proceed to the designated assembly or safe area.
9. Follow instructions from emergency personnel.

NEVER Use Elevators During a Fire

Unless specifically authorized by trained emergency responders or the building's approved emergency procedure:

Do not use passenger elevators during a fire.

Elevators may:

• Stop at a fire-affected floor.
• Become unavailable because of power failure.
• Fill with smoke.
• Open onto a hazardous area.
• Become trapped between floors.

Use the designated emergency stairs instead.

4. EVACUATING THROUGH SMOKE

Smoke can be more dangerous than the fire itself

If smoke is present:

• Avoid entering heavily smoke-filled areas.
• Stay as low as practical where smoke is accumulating.
• Keep your mouth and nose protected from smoke where possible.
• Move toward a safe exit without delaying.
• Do not run or push others.
• If the stairwell becomes contaminated with heavy smoke, do not continue into dangerous conditions; seek an alternative safe route or follow emergency responder instructions.

Never enter a smoke-filled stairwell or corridor simply because it is the designated escape route.

5. PEOPLE REQUIRING ASSISTANCE

High-rise emergency planning must consider occupants who may require additional assistance, including:

• Persons with mobility limitations.
• Wheelchair users.
• Persons with visual or hearing impairments.
• Elderly occupants.
• Patients or visitors requiring assistance.
• Children.
• Persons unfamiliar with the building.

Designated personnel, emergency wardens, and trained staff should assist according to the building's approved emergency evacuation plan.

Do not put yourself or others at significant risk while attempting to assist someone.

6. OPTION TWO — SHELTER IN PLACE

When May Shelter in Place Be Appropriate?

Sheltering in place may be appropriate when:

• The fire is located elsewhere in the building.
• Your immediate area is not affected.
• The designated evacuation route is blocked by fire or heavy smoke.
• Moving through the building would expose you to greater danger.
• The building's emergency plan specifically instructs occupants to remain in protected areas.
• Emergency responders' direct occupants to remain where they are.

Shelter in place does not mean ignoring the emergency. It means remaining in a location that provides greater protection while maintaining communication with emergency personnel.

7. IF YOU CANNOT EVACUATE

If fire or smoke prevents you from safely leaving:

Stay in a Protected Location

• Move into a room or area separated from the fire and smoke.
• Close the door.
• Keep doors closed as much as possible.
• If practical, reduce smoke entry around significant gaps using available materials.
• Stay away from smoke-filled corridors.

Communicate Your Location

Immediately contact emergency services or the building emergency control room.

Provide:

• Building name/location.
• Floor number.
• Room or area number.
• Number of people with you.
• Whether anyone requires assistance.
• Whether smoke or fire is entering your location.

Do not assume that emergency personnel know where you are.

8. IF SMOKE ENTERS YOUR ROOM

If smoke begins entering your shelter location:

• Keep the door closed as much as possible.
• Move away from the smoke source.
• Contact emergency services again and update them on your condition.
• Signal your location if necessary and safe to do so.
• Follow instructions from emergency responders.
• Do not enter a heavily smoke-filled corridor simply because it appears to be the only route.

Your objective is to remain in the safest available location until a safe evacuation route is confirmed or emergency responders provide further instructions.

9. WHAT YOU SHOULD NEVER DO

During a high-rise fire emergency:

❌ Do not panic.

❌ Do not use elevators unless specifically authorized.

❌ Do not enter smoke-filled corridors or stairways.

❌ Do not return to collect personal belongings.

❌ Do not re-enter the building after evacuation.

❌ Do not open a door if it is hot or if smoke/fire conditions indicate danger.

❌ Do not block emergency exits or fire doors.

❌ Do not attempt firefighting beyond your training and capability.

❌ Do not ignore the fire alarm because you cannot see fire in your immediate area.

10. FIRE DOORS AND SMOKE CONTROL

Fire doors are an important component of high-rise fire protection.

Occupants should:

• Keep fire doors closed unless they are designed for normal access.
• Never wedge fire doors open.
• Never obstruct self-closing fire doors.
• Report damaged, missing, or defective fire doors immediately.
• Keep emergency stairways, corridors, and fire exits free from obstruction.

Maintaining compartmentation helps limit the movement of fire and smoke and can provide occupants with additional time to evacuate or remain in a protected area.

11. FIRE SAFETY SYSTEMS

High-rise buildings may be equipped with several fire and life-safety systems, including:

• Automatic fire detection and alarm systems.
• Manual call points.
• Fire extinguishers.
• Automatic sprinkler systems.
• Fire hydrants and hose reels.
• Smoke control systems.
• Pressurized escape stairways.
• Emergency lighting.
• Fire-rated doors and compartments.
• Emergency communication systems.
• Fire command/control rooms.
• Backup power supplies.

Occupants should understand that these systems are layers of protection. They do not eliminate the need for occupants to follow emergency procedures.

12. FIRE WARDENS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS

Fire wardens and emergency response personnel play an important role in managing an incident.

Their responsibilities may include:

• Raising the alarm.
• Directing occupants toward safe evacuation routes.
• Checking designated areas where this can be done safely.
• Preventing occupants from entering hazardous areas.
• Assisting persons requiring additional support.
• Reporting conditions to the emergency control room.
• Supporting emergency responders.
• Helping maintain order at assembly areas.

Occupants should follow the instructions of fire wardens and emergency responders unless doing so would place them in immediate danger.

13. ASSEMBLY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

After evacuation:

• Proceed directly to the designated assembly point or safe area.
• Do not leave the assembly area without authorization.
• Do not obstruct fire brigade access.
• Report missing persons to the responsible emergency coordinator.
• Do not attempt to return to the building to search for missing persons.
• Remain available for further instructions.

Accurate accountability helps emergency responders determine whether anyone may still be inside.

14. KEY DECISION: EVACUATE OR SHELTER?

A simple principle to remember is:

🟢 IF YOUR ESCAPE ROUTE IS SAFE:

EVACUATE using the designated emergency route.

🔴 IF YOUR ESCAPE ROUTE IS BLOCKED OR UNSAFE:

DO NOT ENTER THE HAZARD. SHELTER IN THE SAFEST AVAILABLE PROTECTED LOCATION AND CALL FOR HELP.

⚠️ IF CONDITIONS CHANGE:

Reassess your situation and follow instructions from emergency responders.

The safest response can change as the fire develops.

15. HIGH-RISE FIRE SAFETY — THE GOLDEN RULES

1. Raise the alarm.
Alert others and report the emergency.

2. Stay calm.
Panic can create additional hazards.

3. Assess your escape route.
Do not blindly enter smoke or fire.

4. Evacuate if the route is safe.
Use designated emergency stairs.

5. Do not use elevators unless authorized.

6. If evacuation is unsafe, shelter in a protected location.

7. Communicate your exact location.

8. Follow emergency responder instructions.

9. Never re-enter until officially authorized.

10. Always follow the building-specific Fire & Life Safety Plan.

16. FINAL MESSAGE

A high-rise fire emergency requires calm decision-making, early notification, and disciplined adherence to the building's emergency procedures.

The objective is not simply to evacuate as quickly as possible; it is to move to safety without exposing yourself or others to unnecessary fire and smoke hazards.

Remember:

EVACUATE WHEN IT IS SAFE TO EVACUATE.

SHELTER WHEN EVACUATION IS UNSAFE.

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE APPROVED EMERGENCY PLAN AND INSTRUCTIONS OF TRAINED EMERGENCY PERSONNEL.

Your safety comes first.

🚫 NEVER use elevators during fire — stairs only!
📢 Alert everyone → Close doors → Sound alarm → Call for help early
🚪 Check doors before opening — hot = stay put! Smoke low → crawl low
🛏️ Trapped? Seal cracks with wet cloths, head to balcony, signal & WAIT
🏢 Understand building protections & limits — firefighters cannot reach every spot from outside
📞 Always share exact name, floor & location when you call!

💡 Be prepared, be alert, be safe — safety starts BEFORE the emergency. 🛡️