F.I.R.E. – Family Instructions for Rapid Escape

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

If there was a fire in your home, would you know the best way to escape? In most house or apartment fires, a properly prepared or maintained window can provide the quickest, safest, and most immediate way out. With recent changes to home construction and furnishings, today’s fires burn hotter, spread faster, and churn out more toxic gases than ever before. In the past, residents had about 17 minutes to escape a house fire once their smoke alarm activated, but today that time has dropped to three minutes or less.To help address the problem of fatal fires, Los Angeles County Fire Department (Fire Department) Fire Captain (Captain) Brian Cieslak researched, developed, and authored the Family Instructions for Rapid Escape (F.I.R.E.) public education program.In early 2020, the Fire Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department Foundation (Foundation), proudly introduced the F.I.R.E. parent guide and accompanying color book to walk families through a few simple steps they can take to make their homes “F.I.R.E.” ready and teach them new strategies so they can escape and survive if a fire strikes.