This partial list should be known and understood by everyone in your household. The more you and yours know about fires and fire fighting, the greater chance you will survive. Have an exit strategy.

When the fire department arrives, they and not you have total authority at the scene. Go immediately to the officer who first arrives and advise him of any special circumstances and ask how you can help. Inform them if anyone is unaccounted for.

• Get people and pets out of the building.
• Do not re-enter a burning building for pets.
• Do not re-enter a building, except for life saving, period! And then it may be best to await a fire fighter equipped with breathing apparatus. Your re-entry may just increase the number of persons that will have to be removed by fire fighters at increased risk to all.
• If a garage is attached to the structure and not involved in the fire, open the door so fire fighters can access vehicles, lawn mowers, flammable liquids and gas cylinders, etc. Better yet, plan ahead and have a structure not attached to the house for storage of flammable liquids and lawn mowers, off road systems such as ATVs , outboard motors, chain saws. Having an attached garage is convenient during nasty weather but can present problems during a structure fire.
• If an attached structure is involved in the fire, do not open the doors. This will deprive the fire of air.
• Put pets and children in a car well away from the structure.
• If you live where the structure is not visible from the road or at the end of a long driveway, place someone at the road-drive intersection to aid firemen in finding you.
• If you have boats, vehicles, and other items, move them away from the fire if you can do so. No one needs a potential secondary fire.
• Be sure to allow fire trucks space so they can turn around and park away from the fire. Pumpers may have to go for refills of water or connect to some form of relay involving other trucks.
• If you are near a water source, lake, river, ocean or swimming pool, make sure there is clear access.