Real Life Fire Escape Stories
These Families had a Plan - and it Saved Their Lives...
Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org . ©2005 NFPA
Fire safety education saves lives! To date, 664 life "Saves" have been credited to NFPA's educational programs, including the Fire Prevention Week campaign, "Fire Drills: The Great Escape!" (1998-2000) which educated children and families about the importance of developing and practicing home escape plans, and Risk Watch®, a comprehensive injury prevention program for children in preschool through grade eight.
Following are just a few case histories of actual incidents in which the knowledge gained about home escape planning through NFPA programs has been put into action.
Sudbury, MA
In the early morning hours of January 6, 2002, the Strait family was awakened by the sound of smoke alarms and banging pipes. An electrical fire in the basement had shorted the hard-wired smoke alarms in the home, filling the basement and main floor with smoke. The intense smoke triggered the battery-operated smoke alarms outside the family members' bedrooms. The Straits immediately put their escape plan into action. Eight-year-old Greg and his mom crawled low under smoke and out the front door. His two teenage sisters, Julie and Laura, went with their dad out a second route through the kitchen. Once at their outside meeting place, the family took a head count and called the fire department. The fire was put out quickly, although the house suffered severe damage from the smoke. When asked how her family knew what to do Mrs. Strait said, "Greg made us do it. Every year the kids bring home the assignment to draw the escape map and check smoke alarms and every year my husband and I would roll our eyes...last September Greg insisted that we needed to do his map and escape plan as part of the school's Risk Watch program. So we did it and it really helped us the morning of the fire." The family cat was even saved because the Strait's knew the importance of closing doors behind them. Greg was taught Risk Watch as part of the Sudbury School's wellness curriculum in conjunction with the Sudbury Fire Department.
Woonsocket, RI
On the night of October 18, 2001, five-year-old Matthew Bergeron took action and helped his family escape a fire in their home. The fire started when heat from a pan of boiling water melted an unlit candle placed too close to the burner, causing the wax to ignite. The fire quickly spread causing the kitchen to fill up with black smoke. Matthew, who had learned about fire safety in school the day before, stayed calm and reminded his brother, Joe, 8, and sister, Carrie, 4, to get out of the home and go to their outside meeting place. He also told them to crawl low under the smoke and reminded his mom to call 911. As part of a Risk Watch homework assignment, Matthew and his mom had developed an escape plan the night before the fire. The Woonsocket Fire Department, along with first grade teacher Melissa Pierce at the Bernon Heights Elementary School, taught Matthew fire safety through the Risk Watch program. "As an educator, I was thankful for the opportunity to have taught such safety strategies in the event of an emergency," said Ms. Pierce.
Plano, TX
Ten-year-old Jessica Holley, a fourth grader at the Davis Elementary School, developed and practiced a home fire escape plan with her family as part of a Risk Watch homework assignment. Firefighters visited her classroom on August 26, 1998, to reinforce the importance of having and practicing a home fire escape plan. Ten days later, at 12:50 a.m., Jessica's father was dozing when he heard a crackling sound and discovered a fire in the garage. He quickly alerted his family, who exited the home through the front door, and proceeded to their outside meeting place. When the fire department arrived, the family was able to assure the firefighters that everyone had escaped the burning home safely. The Holley home, and a majority of the family's personal belongings, were destroyed by the fire. Although the home was equipped with smoke alarms and a fire extinguisher, the fire, which burned in the wall between the house and the garage, was above the level of the alarms. Mr. Holley told firefighters that the family had not had a home fire escape plan prior to Jessica completing her Risk Watch homework assignment.
Shelburne Falls, MA
When an electrical fire took place in nine-year-old Alex Giguere's home, he knew what to do. Alex and his three siblings were home with their father at the time of the fire. Alex and his family knew to exit the house quickly and safely. They then went to their set meeting place two houses up the road. Alex had developed a home fire escape plan at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School for "The Great Escape!" At the time of the fire, Alex had not yet practiced his escape plan. Luckily, this was the third year that he had learned about home fire escape planning and practice during Fire Prevention Week, and had practiced an escape plan with his family the past two years.
Corry, PA
In the early morning hours, four-year-old Frank I. Nichols awoke to the sound of the smoke alarm. Frank noticed smoke coming from the living room and immediately woke his mother and the rest of the family. The family calmly excited the house and went to their meeting place while Frank's mother called 911 from a neighbor's house. An object left on a heater, which ignited when the heater activated, was determined to be the cause of the fire. The Corry Fire Department had visited Frank's sisters', Chandell and Shantell, school for Fire Prevention Week. Fortunately, Frank's sisters relayed "The Great Escape!" lessons they had learned to Frank. As a result, Frank knew exactly what to do in a fire, and there were no injuries and minimal fire damage as a result of his actions. At the time of the fire the family had planned a home escape plan, but had not practiced it.
Dover, NH
On January 5, 2001, 11-year-old Sarah Kimball was babysitting her eight-year-old brother Alex, while their mother went to the store. When the smoke alarm sounded, Sarah immediately grabbed her brother and safely exited the home. She then ran to a neighbor's home and called 911. Upon arrival, the firefighters found that the stove had been mistakenly turned on and a pan of grease had begun to smoke, triggering the smoke alarm. Sarah wasted no time getting out of the home; she knew not to stop for her coat and shoes even though there was snow on the ground. Sarah's family had planned and practiced a home fire escape plan as a result of Risk Watch being taught in Sarah's fourth grade class at the Garrison Elementary School.
Chicago Heights, IL
When seven-year-old Michael Rybski heard the smoke alarm, he quickly went to the living room where his mother was asleep, woke her, and exited the house. He then ran to his neighbor's house and called 911. The fire spread throughout the second level of the home, but was quickly contained by the Chicago Heights Fire Department.
Colts Neck, NJ
When firefighters responded to a fire at the Norrell family home, they found the entire family gathered at their outside meeting place. When a grease fire started in the kitchen, 11-year-old Travis heard the smoke alarm and crawled low to the exit. His seven-year-old sister Nikki also dropped to the floor and crawled to the front door. The children's parents and 10-year-old brother also escaped safely. Two weeks before the fire, Travis and Nikki learned about home escape at a safety trailer provided by the Naval Weapons Station Earle Fire and Emergency Services.
Concord, NC
Two families, consisting of two sisters and their seven children (all under the age of 5), were awakened by smoke alarms sounding on the first and second floors of their apartment. Fortunately, the children had learned how to plan and practice an escape from a fire when Concord Fire and Life Safety talked about "The Great Escape!" at the Cabarrus County's Head Start preschool. When firefighters arrived, they found both families safely outside the house. Firefighters quickly attacked the fire and contained the damage to one apartment. During the investigation, a copy of the family's escape plan was found on the kitchen table.
Woodward, OK
On December 20, 2000, Kendra McCoy and Jon Thomas used the skills they learned from Risk Watch, to help their family escape a home fire. While watching television, Kendra noticed smoke coming from a lamp and quickly alerted her parents, John and Retha. While both parents went to investigate the cause of the smoke, Kendra, 8, and Jon, 10, jumped into action. Following the home escape plan the family had previously developed, Kendra and Jon helped older sister, Ashland, and younger brother, Freddy, safely out of the home and to their outside meeting place. After discovering a fire in the family's laundry room, Retha and John quickly joined the children outside and waited for the fire department. Although the home suffered extensive damage, the entire family escaped safely. The family had planned and practiced a home fire escape plan as a result of Risk Watch being taught in Kendra's second grade class, and Jon's fourth grade class at the Cedar Heights Elementary School. "I am so pleased with the program," said Retha McCoy. "Jon and Kendra weren't scared and didn't panic, they knew what to do.
Vernon Hills, IL
When the Serafin family awoke to the sound of the smoke alarm, they discovered a fire in their garage. All six occupants immediately evacuated the home and called 911. Firefighters were able to rescue the family's two dogs and bird from the burning home. The Serafin children had prompted their family to draw and practice a home escape plan after hearing about the "The Great Escape!" campaign in school.
Wiarton, ON
Bob Walker credits "The Great Escape!" information his children received at the Wiarton Public School for his family's quick action during a fire in their duplex home. Nine-year-old twins Ashley and Ryan created a home fire escape plan after a classroom lesson on fire safety. Mr. Walker and his wife, the twins, and two-year-old Brent escaped their burning home at 3:00 a.m. Unfortunately, two boys living in the same duplex were killed by the fire. "The twins pushed the fire safety procedures they were taught at school and had us practice how to get out and stay out," said Mr. Walker.
Seattle, WA
Five-year-old Latosha Winslow woke to the sound of the smoke alarm. When Latosha went to her bedroom door, she felt heat and knew she needed find another way out. Latosha's family had discussed home fire escape planning after she learned about "The Great Escape!" at school. Latosha crawled out of her bedroom window and went to a neighbor's home, where a call to 911 was made. Latosha's mother was able to rescue Latosha's two younger siblings, including her three-year-old brother who firefighters say started the fire by playing with matches.
Wichita, KS
Members of the Rasmussen family are counting their blessings after a fire destroyed their home and all their Christmas presents. Trent Rasmussen, his wife, Tammy, their five children and Tammy's mother and stepfather were asleep when Trent was awakened by a loud, popping noise. When he realized the bedroom was full of smoke, he put the family's escape plan into action. Trent helped his mother-in-law escape, and kicked in a basement window to reach three family members who were sleeping downstairs. Once outside, the family realized that five-year-old Kaitlyn was missing. Trent found her just inside the front door and was able to rescue her. "Firefighters tell me that we had, at most, two minutes to get out alive," says Trent. "Fortunately, we had a fire plan." The family's four oldest children insisted on drawing a home fire escape plan after visiting local fire stations during Fire Prevention Week.
Odessa, TX
The father of an Odessa family was awakened by a popping sound in the early morning hours. When he investigated, he discovered heavy smoke and flames, and rushed to alert his wife and three children. Although there was very little smoke, the children told their parents to crawl out of the house. Immediately after their escape, the living room and hall ceilings collapsed due to the fire in the attic. All three children received information at school about "The Great Escape!" and encouraged their parents to draw and practice a home fire escape plan.
Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
Nine-year-old Steven Farrow, Jr., saved the lives of his three younger siblings when fire ripped through his family's home. Steven rounded up his two sisters and brother, got them outside the house safely, and waited for his parents to exit the home as well. Mrs. Farrow, unaware that the children had already escaped, told her husband to get them. Fortunately, Mr. Farrow knew that Steven had already helped them escape. Mr. and Mrs. Farrow then exited the home with their youngest child through a back door. As they moved toward the front of the house, the roof collapsed and the house burned to the ground. During Fire Prevention Week, volunteer firefighters from the Cross Roads Fire Department visited all local grade 3-6 classrooms to promote "The Great Escape."
Lynwood, IL
Six-year-old Breana Spriggs' grandmother mistakenly put an electric coffeepot on the stove. As a result, the kitchen filled with thick black smoke, triggering the smoke alarm. As soon as Breana heard the smoke alarm, she alerted the rest of the family. The family calmly exited the home and went to their outside meeting place where Breana's older sister called the fire department from her cell phone. As part of the Third District of Illinois Great Escape Project, Lt. Jeff Hinkens from the Lynwood Fire Department had visited Breana's first grade class at the Nathan Hale Elementary School. Breana brought home a "Great Escape" planning grid and persuaded her family to develop and practice an escape plan. Breana told one of the firefighters at the scene, "Tell firefighter Jeff I did what he said."
Cochrane, AB
Gary Stevens smelled smoke in his new home. Although the smoke alarms had not yet sounded, the main level of the house was filling with a smoky haze. Mrs. Stevens was out walking the dog, but the couple's three daughters, ages 12, 9, and 6, were asleep upstairs. Awakened by their father's shouts, the girls immediately activated the plan they had discussed at dinner the night before in preparation for "The Great Escape!" Just the week before the fire, the Cochrane Fire Department had distributed "Great Escape" planning grids and NFPA brochures to 2,600 local students in grades K-7.
Belleville, NJ
Nine-year-old Michael Perez is credited with saving his mother's life, as well as his own, when a grease fire got out of control and spread throughout their kitchen. Mrs. Perez tried frantically to douse the fire with water, which only splattered the burning grease. Michael told his mother, "Hurry, we have to get out!" Then, to avoid inhaling smoke, the youngster warned his mother to crawl low to safety. At the time of the fire, Michael was working on a homework assignment that included drawing a home fire escape plan.
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