Empire State Building The attack on the World Trade Center created a catastrophic collapse of both towers. While this tragedy will be reviewed and evaluated for a long time to come, we still recommend you follow the safety guidelines presented below.

A fire in a high-rise residential building usually can be confined to the apartment where it starts. However, smoke and heat can travel throughout the building, especially upward.

High-rise residential buildings are constructed to be fireproof. Most of what is inside the buildings, including your furnishings and belongings, can burn and produce a tremendous amount of heat and smoke.

Ways to Keep your Apartment Safe

Never keep rubbish in the hallway. Make sure it is stored properly and collected regularly.
Don't put items in the trash chute that are too big and may get stuck. Things caught in the chute easily can turn a fire in the basement into a fire on your floor.
Be careful not to overload electrical circuits. Short circuits are the cause of many fires.
Cook with care. Keep a small portable dry chemical fire extinguisher readily available (Class B or K extinguisher). Baking soda is also a handy household item that can be used to smother stove fires.
Never smoke in bed and make sure that there are no smoldering butts when you empty ashtrays.
Test smoke detectors weekly and replace batteries twice a year (the beginning & end of Daylight Savings time).
Make sure that your apartment door is a tight-fitting self-closing type of door in compliance with the fire code. Should your door not self-close, request this repair from your building manager.
Inspect your exit stair doors. They must be self-closing, snap shut and unlock from both sides. If they don't meet this standard, report it to the superintendent or the Fire Department.

If The Fire is in Your Apartment

Get everyone out. Stay low as you go out. Close but don't lock all doors in the apartment as you leave.
Alert others on the floor by knocking on doors. Activate the fire alarm if there is one.
Go down the nearest STAIRWAY, holding the railing.
Call the Fire Department from a floor BELOW THE FIRE or from a street fire alarm box outside.

If the Fire is NOT in Your Apartment

Stay inside rather than entering smoke-filled hallways, especially if the fire is on a floor below your apartment.
Keep your door closed.
Seal the door with duct tape or wet sheets and towels. Seal ventilators and any other openings where smoke may enter.
Turn off air conditioners.
Fill your bathtub with water. If the front door gets hot, wet it down.
Unless flames or smoke are coming from below, open your windows a few inches at the top or bottom. Don't break the windows; they may need to be closed later.
Call the Fire Department with your apartment number and a description of the conditions in your apartment. Firefighters will be directed to your location.
If you feel you are in grave danger, open a window and wave a bed sheet for firefighters to spot you.

Planning Ahead Can Save Your Life

Things to know:

The layout of your floor.
The location of all stair exits from your floor.
The number of doors between your apartment and the exit stairs. This is essential knowledge to find the exit in the dark.
Where your apartment key is located. Take the key with you if you are forced to evacuate.
The location of fire alarm boxes (if your building has them.)

Things to Do

Keep flashlights ready and in a handy place.
Install and maintain smoke detectors. Owners of high-rise buildings are required by law to install one detector in each apartment, but its maintenance is up to you.
Report fire hazards to your superintendent. Blocked exits, piled-up trash, missing exit lights and open fire doors are violations of law. If your superintendent doesn't correct them call the Fire Department (718) 999-2541, and report the condition. Your life may depend on getting the violations corrected.

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