Home Fire Escape Plan: The 2-Minute Drill

Home fires are fast enough to make "I'll figure it out later" a very bad strategy. Ready.gov says a fire can become life-threatening in just two minutes, so this plan is about making the first moves boringly obvious before the alarm ever chirps. 1

The job is simple: smoke alarms wake you up, the map tells everyone where to go, and the drill keeps the hallway from becoming a family strategy meeting.

Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement. USFA also recommends interconnected alarms so that when one sounds, they all sound. Test smoke alarms monthly and replace the full alarm at 10 years. 2

Draw a map of the home with all doors and windows, then pick two ways out of every room. USFA says to make sure doors and windows are not blocked; Ready.gov adds that windows should not be stuck, screens should come out quickly, security bars should open properly, and exits should work for anyone using a walker or wheelchair. 13

Choose an outside meeting place in front of the home, push the smoke alarm test button to start the drill, and practice with everyone in the household. Red Cross recommends practicing the plan twice a year, and its fire guidance is blunt in the useful way: get out, stay out, and call for help. 34