When the fire alarm sounds in your home, office, or building, there isn’t much time to think about what is going on – it’s all about reacting. Ideally, you have an evacuation plan in place so that your loved ones or employees know where the emergency exits are located and how to get out of the building in the most safe and orderly fashion. Your primary objective should absolutely be getting yourself and your loved ones out of danger as quickly as possible, but there are certain things that will happen after the alarm goes off that you should be aware of.
The fire sprinklers will come on.
Fire sprinkler systems are activated by heat, and will open in response to a nearby heat source or fire. Once your fire alarm system begins to sound, you can expect the sprinklers to begin kicking on soon afterwards.
Everyone will need to evacuate.
Your loved ones or employees should begin to move out of the building as quickly and safely as possible as soon as they hear the fire alarms begin to sound. Once safe ground is reached, it is best to do a head count to make sure that each and every person is accounted for and that no one is left inside of the building or danger area.
Emergency and first responders will arrive.
If you have any of our fire alarm monitoring systems and services, emergency responders will have already been alerted by the time you are exiting the building and will begin to arrive at your building shortly after. It is still a good idea to call 911 as soon as you know that everyone is out of danger as a backup.
Remove all valuables and secure the building.
Once the fire is put out and the structure is secure, the fire department may tell you that it is safe to reenter. It is best that you try to collect as many valuables as you can at this time. Even after you have removed everything that you have deemed as valuable, you should still take the necessary measures to ensure that the building or residence is secure. This can help prevent any further damage, such as theft, looting, or graffiti. It is a smart idea to coordinate this idea with law enforcement as well.
Contact your insurance company.
It is best to contact your insurance company as soon as you possibly can to get the process of rebuilding and recovery moving. After your call, an insurance adjuster will be dispatched to assess and evaluate the damage.
Knowing what to do and what to expect before disaster strikes can be very helpful in your time of need. Properly installed and maintained fire protection systems, fire alarms, and fire extinguishers can make the difference when it comes down to keeping yourself, your loved ones, and your employees safe.
Contact us at 727-478-0277 for more information on how to be prepared if your fire alarm ever goes off.