Residential evacuation plan

An evacuation plan can help prevent panic in case of a fire.

• Start by mapping out all the floors of your home, clearly indicating all possible exits for every room.
• Outline the main route to take to quickly evacuate the building, and indicate alternative routes for each room.
• Plan a way to evacuate young children, seniors and anybody with a disability.
• Agree on an outside meeting point that everyone can get to, and make sure that everyone knows about it so that it will be easier to quickly figure out whether everybody made it out by the time the firefighters arrive.
• Possible meeting points: lamp post, family car in the parking lot, tree in front of the house, etc.
• The meeting point must never be in the back yard.
• Conduct regular emergency evacuation exercises with your family. Also make sure that everybody understands the importance of immediately getting out when the smoke alarm goes off or someone shouts “Fire!”

As soon as the smoke alarm goes off

Immediately get out, being sure to:

• touch the door with the back of the hand before opening it;
• if it is hot, take another exit; if you cannot, let people know where you are by waving a towel or sheet from the window;
• if possible, alert the other occupants as you evacuate the building;
• get down on all fours under the smoke to avoid inhaling toxic gases;
• if your clothing catches fire: stop, lie down and roll around on the ground;
• get to the meeting point and see if anyone is missing;
• ask someone to call 9-1-1; and
• do not go back inside to save a person or a pet, or to get personal belongings: wait until the firefighters get there.

It's easy to be safe at home

• Have at least one smoke alarm on each floor, check it regularly, make sure the batteries are good at all times, and never disconnect it. Lien page Avertisseur de fumée
• Always keep hallways and balconies clear to avoid obstructions in case you have to evacuate.

Evacuation plans on the wall

Every residential or commercial building that has an alarm system has to have an evacuation plan posted in clear sight of everyone in the building, indicating the geographic or physical layout of the structure.

This plan must indicate the exits and safety equipment, as well as the telephone number for the Service de sécurité incendie, and steps to take in case of a fire.