an independent guide to everyday fire safety at home

Pojarnik26

An independent guide to everyday fire safety. This is not a website of EMERCOM of Russia or the fire service, and it is not the former site on this domain. In a fire in Russia, call 101 or 112; elsewhere, call your local emergency number.

an independent guide to everyday fire safety at home

Pojarnik26 — fire safety at home, at the dacha and on the road

Most house fires start with ordinary things: an overloaded socket, a frying pan forgotten on the hob, a stove lit after a long break, a campfire left unattended. This guide gathers calm, practical explanations: how to lower the risk of fire at home, at the dacha and in the car, what to do if a fire has already started or your flat smells of gas, how smoke alarms and fire extinguishers work, and how to talk about safety with children and elderly relatives. No equipment advertising, no brands and no scaremongering. If a fire is happening right now, call 101 or 112 — these are the emergency numbers in Russia; if you are elsewhere, call your local emergency number (for example 112 in the EU or 911 in the US).

Fire safety at home is not a set of complicated rules. It is a few habits and one escape plan worked out in advance.

— Editor's note

Where to start

At home

Electricity, the kitchen, heating and escape routes: the guide's sections on flats and houses.

At the dacha and outdoors

Stoves, the banya, dry grass and campfires: a collection to read before the dacha and heating season.

In the car

Short answers on what to keep in the car and what to do if you see smoke.

Guide sections

  • Topics

    Guide map: home and flat, dacha and outdoors, transport, children and elderly relatives.

  • Practical

    A family evacuation plan: how to draw it up and practise it. Plus a catalogue of upcoming articles.

  • Questions

    Short answers: fire and gas leaks, smoke alarms and extinguishers, the dacha, stoves and wiring.

  • Collections

    Reading paths: first steps at home, before the season, talking to children and parents.

  • Reference

    Glossary: fire and combustion, fire classes, protective equipment, laws and regulations.

  • New

    A dated feed of the guide's publications.

  • Archive

    All materials by date and topic, plus a note on the domain's former addresses.

Example: check your home in five steps

  1. Electricity

    Look for overloaded extension leads, damaged cables and sockets that get hot or spark. Plug high-power appliances into separate sockets, and stop using faulty ones until an electrician has repaired them.

  2. Kitchen

    Never leave a hob on unattended, and keep tea towels, oven gloves and paper away from the flame. Never pour water on burning oil — cover the pan tightly with a lid and turn off the hob.

  3. Heating

    Keep heaters away from curtains and furniture, and do not dry clothes on them. Have a specialist check the stove and chimney before the season, and use them according to the instructions.

  4. Escape routes

    Make sure the front door opens without hunting for the key, the hallway and landing are clear, and everyone in the family knows how to get out of the flat and where to meet outside.

  5. Smoke alarm and extinguisher

    A battery-powered smoke alarm on the ceiling sounds when it detects smoke — check it with the test button. If you have a fire extinguisher, read the label on its body to see which classes of fire it is suitable for.

Frequently asked questions in brief

Is this an EMERCOM or fire station website?

No. Pojarnik26 is an independent guide. We are not affiliated with EMERCOM of Russia, the fire service or volunteer fire brigades, we do not take emergency calls and we do not advise on specific buildings.

Whom should I call in a fire?

In Russia, call 101 for the fire service, including from a mobile phone, or 112, the single emergency number. If you smell gas, leave the premises and call the emergency gas service on 104 or call 112. Outside Russia, use your local emergency number.

Do you sell fire extinguishers or smoke alarms?

No. We sell nothing, we do not name brands or shops and we do not publish equipment rankings. We explain how different types of extinguishers and alarms work and what to look for on the label and in the product data sheet.

Where can I find the official rules?

The main documents are Federal Law No. 69-FZ “On Fire Safety” and the Fire Safety Regulations of the Russian Federation approved by Government Decree No. 1479. Safety leaflets for the public are published by EMERCOM of Russia.

About the project

Pojarnik26 is an independent reference project. This domain used to host a website about firefighting, which was later overrun by spam. The current guide is not connected with the former site, does not restore its materials and does not present itself as EMERCOM of Russia, the fire service or the former project.

We write about things that are useful in everyday life: how to lower the risk of fire at home, at the dacha and in the car, how to act in a fire or if you smell gas, and how smoke alarms and fire extinguishers work. The guide does not replace official requirements, which are set out in EMERCOM of Russia documents and in legislation. The examples on the site are hypothetical.

Sources

  • Federal Law No. 69-FZ “On Fire Safety”
  • Federal Law No. 123-FZ “Technical Regulations on Fire Safety Requirements”
  • Fire Safety Regulations of the Russian Federation (Government Decree No. 1479)
  • EMERCOM of Russia — safety leaflets for the public

Information is current as of the date of preparation. The Russian Fire Safety Regulations, federal laws and EMERCOM of Russia leaflets are updated from time to time, so check the requirements in force in the official documents, and check how to maintain a specific device in the manufacturer's instructions and the product data sheet.