Whether a house fire or a forest fire, when a blaze catches you off guard, you’ve precious time to react — HOW TO SURVIVE outlines the best ways to get out safely!

Fires kill more than all natural disasters combined! Four out of five deaths from fire occur at home. Most people aren’t killed by flames but by deadly smoke inhalation.

The common household battery – this tiny unit of stored energy is responsible for saving more than half of all household fire victims. It could save more if people would only remember to check them. In fact, when it comes to fire smarts, man is anything but smart. In the home, smoking is the leading cause of fire related deaths. Four out of five wildfires are started not by lightening but by the carelessness of man.

To put the danger in perspective, wildfires can spread up to 14 miles per hour. In the home, a spark from an every day object can rage out of control within less than thirty seconds. It can double in size every minutes killed instantly.e. When heat is absorbed into the walls and furnishings, the buildup can cause an entire room to explode into flames in what’s called flashover. Anyone in the room, civilian or firefighter, is killed instantly. So whether camping in the woods or asleep in your bed, if you’re confronted by fire, take the following steps to survive:

  • Get out – shout a warning to anyone who could be in danger but don’t stop to gather belongings. Get yourself to safety. In a house or in an apartment, test the door for heat. If smoke is coming from underneath, the fire may be looking for a new source of oxygen. If you open the door, an explosive backdraft could shoot into the room. Instead, seal out any smoke with clothes or towels and head for an an alternative exit like a window.
  • In a wildfire head the opposite direction of the flame. Smoke is your enemy now and if it follows you, stay low. Get down on your hands and knees and crawl toward an exit. Smoke is hotter than air and will rise leaving a pocket of fresh air below. So get your mouth and nose as low as possible. If it’s an option, wet your clothes or wrap a wet blanket around your body to stave off the heat – especially in a wildfire.
  • If you’re still trapped, you’ve got to signal for help. Fire is bright but smoke is dark. Whether you are in a house or in a forest, even if you can see the firefighters, they may not be able to see you. Call 911 if you can and let the operator know what room you are in. Attract attention by waving something bright out the window or be able to name your campsite and relay an identifiable landmark to the rescuers.
  • If the flames reach your area, make a final escape. Fireproof rope ladders can save your life if you have one. So can jumping to a lower roof and then to the ground. In a wildfire, any body of water big enough to stop the progression of the flames can provide refuge including outdoor swimming pools as a last resort. Be cautious of hot, shallow streams If you’re being surrounded, locate an area free of brush and quickly dig a hole. Cover yourself with dirt, sand, or a fireproof blanket and wait for the flames to pass. If all else fails, your last option is to jump through the firewall. Locate an area with the shallowest flames and if you can, wrap a wet blanket around yourself for protection. Cover your face with your shirt or arms and make a run for it. Head away from the flames to the nearest road, red cross, or hospital if needed.

Congratulations! You’ve handled the heat and survived. In the future, protect yourself before a fire starts. Only ignite campfires on level ground away from dry brush and never leave a fire unattended. At home, install working fore alarms and follow these easy steps to fight the flames!

Related Fire Safety Products to Consider:


Ultra Armor Fireproof Document Bag a Perfect Safe Accessory – $18.99Silicone Coated Fire Resistant Bag: A Must Have at Home – Use In Safes Or Safety Deposit BoxesThe Ultra Armor Fireproof Bags are perfect safe accessories offering your valuables a second layer of protection in the event of a fire. The large (15″ x 11″) bag offers enough space to store your legal document files, passport, cash, coins, jewelry, licenses, photos, laptop, certificates and other valuables.NOTE: Using a combination of solutions such as a fireproof bags and a SAFE together can offer the best protection for your personal belongings. Paper can still get carbonized within any fire resistant material after lengthy exposure to high temperatures.STANDS UP TO FIRE AND HEAT of 1000 ?(550 ?) – Made of super high quality fireproof fiberglass, 100% fire resistant guarantee!NON-ITCHY SILICONE COATED FIBERGLASS – Fiberglass is a great fire resistant material, but if any of you have ever handled fiberglass or some of the other bags out there, you know it can get into your skin and be awfully itchy or irritating. Our bag is featured with a silicone covering so that we could get the same fire protection but without any glass fiber annoy.Key Product Features NON-ITCHY SILICONE COATED FIBERGLASS – No need to worry about splinters or irritation as found on other fire resistant bags. The EcoGear FX fire resistant bags are perfect safe accessories and are constructed with ultra-high quality silicone coated fireproof fiberglass. DOUBLE LAYER PROTECTION – Manufactured using 2 layers which are made of an ultra-fire retardant fiberglass material. The fire proof bag can withstand fire and heat reaching up to 1100 ? (593 ?). LARGE SIZE (15″ x 11″) – Providing plenty of storage space for your legal documents, passport, cash, coins, jewelry, licenses, photos, laptop, certificates and other valuables. WATER RESISTANT – Not only do the Ultra Armor fireproof document bags withstand fire, but the highly water-resistant material offers protection should the bag come in contact with water.


Ring O Fire – $24.99
from: DayOne Gear LLC

Live Fire Survival Kit – $12.99

The Live Fire Survival Kit includes 1 Live Fire Original Fire Starter and 1 Ferrocerium Rod & Striker. The Live Fire Original Fire Starter is smaller, lighter, burns hotter and burns longer than other leading emergency fire starting products! The Live Fire Original Fire Starter is meant for ALL weather conditions and takes a spark easily from a Ferrocerium rod, lighter or match. The entire contents are 100% waterproof and will even light after being submerged in water for long periods of time. Each unit weighs just .9 oz. Burn times average 20-30 minutes with the lid completely removed. Because the lid slides open and closed, it allows you to control the needed flame size. This allows you to conserve resources as well as drastically increase the product’s standard burn times.
550 FireCord – Black – 25 Feet – $12.49

550 FireCord is 550 Paracord with an 8th inner strand (color-coded and waterproof) that can be used as fire tinder. When you need the fire tinder strand, just remove it and light below your kindling to start a fire. The 550 outer shell can still be utilized for Survival Kits, Zipper Pulls, Handles, Keychains, Bracelets, Necklaces, Lanyards, Boot Laces, Outdoor Lashings or any other utility needs. 550 FireCord is the next evolution in outdoor gear preparedness!