WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — It’s Fire Prevention Week and firefighters with the West Palm Beach Fire Department want to make sure you have an escape plan in place.
On Thursday, West Palm Beach fire inspectors, in partnership with the National Fire Protection Association, focused on preventing fires before they start.
One way is to avoid overloading power strips and check for any visible damage to prevent fires.
Fire inspectors held a demonstration at a training facility to show residents what to do if they need to escape a fire in their home or business. They say if you see smoke on the other side of the door, you should get low to the ground since smoke rises. This way it will be safer for someone to find their way out out of the building.
🔥PRACTICE🔥Home escape. It’s fire prevention week and @WPBfire wants to make sure your family has an escape plan if a fire breaks out in your home. More on @WPTV pic.twitter.com/0YTeV35jCY
— Janny Rodriguez (@JannyReports) October 10, 2019
West Palm Beach Fire Marshal Chief Peter Leduc says if you are inside a bedroom, you need to check the door temperature before opening it.
“If the door knob is hot, then you don’t want to through that door, then you want to go toward your window. You should be able to know how to open your window. And if you can open it, but you can’t get out, put a sheet outside from your bed. Hang it out the window because the firefighters know that’s where you’re at,” said Leduc.
Leduc also stressed the importance of having a meeting place in mind after you escape from the fire.
Visit the National Fire Protection Association website for more fire safety tips.