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.

Practical

Practical articles

The first article in this section explains how to draw up and practise a family evacuation plan. The result: everyone in the family knows how to get out of the flat or house if the smoke alarm goes off or smoke appears, who helps children and elderly relatives, where you meet outside and who calls 101 or 112. These are the emergency numbers in Russia; if you live elsewhere, write your local emergency number into the plan instead (for example 112 in the EU or 911 in the US). The examples in the article are hypothetical and are for illustration only.

There is no time to come up with a plan during a fire. Draw it up in advance, on a quiet day, and walk through it once with your family.

— Editor's note

Before you start

  • A sheet of paper and a pencil to sketch a simple plan of your flat or house
  • Half an hour when the whole family, including the children, is at home
  • Knowing where the front door keys are kept and whether there is a second way out
  • Willingness to talk calmly about who will need help getting out

  1. Sketch a plan of your home

    Mark the rooms, doors, windows, balcony, hallway and stairs. The plan does not need to be accurate — what matters is that everyone understands where things are and how to reach the exit from each room.

    Hypothetical example: the flat has two rooms and a kitchen. Arrows on the plan show the route from each room to the front door and out to the stairs.

  2. Find two ways out

    The main route is usually the front door and the stairs. Think about what to do if smoke cuts it off: in a house it may be another door; in a block of flats it may be the balcony or a room where you can shut the door and wait for help. Never use the lift during a fire.

    Hypothetical example: if there is smoke in the hallway, the family has agreed to go to the far room, shut the door, call 112 and stand by the window so they can be seen.

  3. Agree on a meeting point

    Choose a place outside, at a safe distance from the building, where everyone gathers after getting out. That way you can see at once whether everyone is out, and nobody goes back inside to look for the others.

    Hypothetical example: the meeting point is the bench opposite the entrance. Whoever gets out first waits there for the others and does not go back.

  4. Assign roles

    Decide in advance who helps the children, who helps elderly relatives or anyone with limited mobility, and who takes the phone and calls. Keep the roles simple so they can be carried out in a hurry.

    Hypothetical example: Mum takes the youngest child out, the eldest son goes with Grandma, and Dad leaves last, closes the door and calls 101.

  5. Go over what to do in a fire

    Report the fire on 101 or 112, leave the premises, close doors behind you, keep low if there is smoke and do not go back for belongings. You can call once you are outside if calling indoors would delay your escape.

    Hypothetical example: during the drill the children take turns saying the numbers 101 and 112 and explaining what they would tell the operator: what is on fire and the address.

  6. Go over what to do if you smell gas

    If you smell gas, do not switch lights or appliances on or off and do not use any open flame. Open the windows, leave the premises and, once outside, call the emergency gas service on 104 or call 112.

    Hypothetical example: the kitchen smells of gas. A family member leaves the light switch alone, opens the window, takes everyone out to the stairwell and calls 104 from outside.

  7. Hold a drill

    Calmly walk through the whole plan together, from the smoke alarm or an agreed signal to the meeting point. Talk about what worked and what was awkward: for example, finding the key took too long or the balcony door sticks.

    Hypothetical example: the drill showed that the front door key was in a bag in another room. The family agreed to hang it on a hook by the door.

  8. Keep the plan up to date

    Revisit the plan whenever something changes: a move, renovation, a new baby or an elderly relative coming to live with you. Put the plan somewhere visible and repeat the drill from time to time.

    Hypothetical example: after rearranging the furniture, a wardrobe partly blocked the way to the balcony. The plan was updated and the wardrobe was moved.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming everyone will work out what to do when the fire starts
  • Using the lift during a fire
  • Going back into the flat for belongings, documents or pets
  • Not agreeing on a meeting point and searching for each other inside the building
  • Keeping the front door key in no fixed place
  • Cluttering the hallway, the lobby and the stair landing

Alternatives

  • If you have small children, turn the drill into a calm game and repeat it more often
  • If someone cannot get out on their own, decide in advance who will help them and discuss the plan with your neighbours
  • If you live alone, talk the plan through out loud and tell family members or neighbours about it

Result checklist

  • A plan of the flat or house with escape routes has been sketched
  • A fallback has been found in case smoke cuts off the main route
  • A meeting point outside has been chosen
  • Roles are assigned: who helps the children and older relatives, who calls
  • Everyone knows the numbers 101, 112 and 104 (or the local emergency number)
  • Everyone knows not to use the lift in a fire
  • The front door key is kept in a fixed place
  • At least one drill has been held

Catalogue of articles for English-speaking readers

This section will publish standalone articles written for English-speaking readers in the UK, Ireland, North America, Australia and elsewhere. They take into account how homes, heating and everyday life are typically arranged in those countries, and they are not translations of articles from other language versions of the site.

Topics the editors are planning

  • Charging e-bikes, e-scooters and phones safely at home: lithium-ion battery habits
  • Space heaters and electric blankets: safe use through the winter
  • Smoke alarms on every floor: where to fit them and how to test them
  • Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves: what to check before the first fire of the season

Editorial rules

  • Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
  • Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
  • We do not publish equipment rankings, shop advertising, unverifiable statistics or reviews.
  • Questions

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

  • Reference

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

  • Collections

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

Sources

  • Federal Law No. 69-FZ “On Fire Safety”
  • 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.