The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates that approximately 80 percent of all fire deaths in the United States and Canada occur in the home. Roughly 11 people per day, die in home fires in the U.S. and Canada. Many lives can be saved if people react immediately when a fire alarm sounds. Once a fire starts, there’s no time to develop a plan. The NFPA urges everyone to “Know When to Go.”

In Single Family Homes: If a smoke detector sounds in your home, leave immediately—do not investigate.

When a Smoke Detector Sounds:

• Alert others by shouting, “Fire! Everyone outside!” and leave immediately.
• Test doors with the back of your hand before opening them; if the door is warm, use an alternative escape route.
• Use windows as alternate exits.
• If you must exit through smoke, crawl low, keeping your head 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 centimeters) above the floor, where the air is cleaner.
• When you are outside, go to your meeting place.
• Call the fire department using a neighbor’s phone, portable phone, or fire alarm box.
• Do not go back inside for any reason.

Know What to Do

• Know at least two ways out of every room.
• Practice your escape plan with an exit drill every six months.
• Pick a meeting place outside your home where everyone can gather once they’ve left the building.
• Keep exit paths clear of furniture and clutter.
• Make sure the number of your home is clearly visible from the street.

Special Situations

If possible, older adults and people with mobility disabilities should sleep on the ground floor.

Make special plans for anyone who may need assistance escaping.

Let you fire department know whether your household includes someone who may have difficulty escaping a fire.

In High-Rise Buildings: Consult your building management or fire department and know what to do in advance. In some occupanies, such as high-rise apartment buildings, the safest action when a fire alarm sounds may be to stay inside the dwelling unit and protect yourself from smoke until the fire department arrives. Some building evacuation plans may require you to go to a “safe area” inside the building and wait for the fire department to supervise evacuation.

When a Fire Alarm Sounds: If you can hear instructions over your building’s public address system, do as you are told; you might be told to stay where you are.

If You Stay

• Stay calm and take steps to protect yourself.
• If possible, go to a room with an outside window or balcony and a telephone.
• Close all doors between you and the fire. Stuff the cracks around your door with towels, rags, or duct tape and cover vents to keep smoke out of the room.
• If there is a phone in the room, call the fire department even if you see fire trucks, and report your exact location.
• Wait at a window and signal for help using a flash light or by waving a sheet or light-colored cloth.
• If possible, open the window at the top and bottom, but do not break the window.
• Be ready to close the window quickly if smoke rushes in.
• Be patient. Rescuing all the occupants of a high-rise building can take several hours.

If You Go

Follow your building’s evacuation plans exactly unless there is immediate danger. Proceed cautiously, checking each door you encounter for heat and each corridor of stairwell for smoke. If you encounter smoke or flames at any point, seek an alternative exit route. If none is available, return to your room, protect yourself from smoke, and wait to be rescued.

• Elevators should not be used during a fire.
• If you must exit through smoke, crawl low, under it where the air is cleaner.
• As you exit, close all doors behind you to prevent the spread of smoke or flames.
• Once you are out, do not go back inside; tell the fire department if anyone is trapped inside.

Plan Ahead

• Learn your building’s evacuation plans.
• Be familiar with the sound of the fire alarm.
• Learn the location of pull stations that activate your building’s fire alarm, and how to use them.
• Post emergency numbers near all phones.
• Know at least two escape routes from your apartment or condo, and pick a meeting place outside.
• Learn the fastest route to your building’s fire exits so that you can find them, even in the dark

Reprinted from the NFPA pamphlet “Know When To Go! React Fast To Fire”

Since 9-1-1 was introduced to Mendham, it has led to speedier responses to emergencies.  However, there are a few details about 9-1-1 that you should be aware of:

• For ANY EMERGENCY, dial 9-1-1 !!!!!
• If you require the assistance of the police, fire department or first aid squad, dial 9-1-1.  Calmly and clearly answer the dispatcher’s questions, including your name, location and type of emergency.
• If you accidentally dial 9-1-1, don’t hang up!!! Stay on the line and explain to the dispatcher that you have made a mistake.
• Anytime 9-1-1 is dialed, the call will ALWAYS go through to the Morris County Sheriff’s Communications Center.  It does not matter if you hang up the phone – your name, address and phone number are displayed on the 9-1-1 terminal.  A dispatcher is required to call you back to verify if there is an emergency.  Please stand by and answer the dispatcher’s questions.  Simultaneously, a police officer is dispatched to personally confirm that no emergency exists.
• See our Contact Us Page for Non-emergency Numbers

Dialing 9-1-1 from a cell phone

When dialing 911 from your home, or a land-based line, your call will go directly to Morris County’s Dispatch Center. There a dispatcher will answer your call and will be able to dispatch the Mendham Fire Department, First Aid Squad or Police Department to your location. Dialing 911 from your cellular telephone is different:

• Your cell phone call may be routed to a State Police Dispatch Center, even if you are calling from  inside Morris County. (It has to do with what tower you cell phone signal reaches and where that cell phone tower routes the call through.) Our local Dispatchers will be contacted by the State Police with the information you provide, so be specific.
• Your Cell Phone number and carrier will  appear at the 911 center when you call 911. Always give us the Cell Phone Number you are calling from.
• When calling 911 know your EXACT location. (Unlike land based 911 where we can located you by the address.)
• When calling 911 from a Cell Phone that has been disconnected, the 911 center will not receive the cell phone number and will not be able to  call  the cell phone back since it is disconnected. You must let the 911 dispatcher know that you are on a cell phone that is disconnected.  You also must know your EXACT location. (You can still dial 911 from a disconnected cell phone.)