Fire safety involves understanding the fire triangle of fuel, heat, and oxygen. Prevention focuses on minimizing these components through detectors, sprinklers, and flame-retardant materials. Heritage requires bi-annual fire drills on all shifts to practice evacuation routes and ensure exits are clearly marked. During a fire, one should RACE: rescue those in danger, alert others to call for help, contain the fire, and extinguish or evacuate. Fire extinguishers are used by pulling the pin, aiming at the base of the fire, squeezing the handle, and sweeping side to side. All employees must be trained on evacuation plans and drills.

1. Fire Safety:
Prevention, Exit Drills and Hazards

2. Fire Prevention
• The “Fire Triangle” identifies the three
components of any fire:
– Fuel paper, wood, flammable gas, energized electrical
equipment, etc...
– Energy (heat), sufficient to support combustion.
Often referred to as the ignition source.
– Oxidizer (air)
IF ANY ONE OF THESE IS MISSING, A FIRE
CANNOT CONTINUE.
THEREFORE…

3. Prevention
• Prevention is based on
eliminating or minimizing
one of the components
of the “Fire Triangle”.

4. Prevention
• Other fire prevention
methods include:
– Heat and/or smoke
detectors.
– Automatic fire sprinkler
systems.
– Building codes and
materials.
– Flame retardant
furnishings and materials.

5. Exit Drills
• Heritage requires bi-
annual fire drills
conducted in all
occupied locations of
the facility.
• The fire drills should
include staff from all
shifts on a rotating
basis (i.e. one per shift
per drill period).

6. Evacuation
• Primary and secondary
evacuation routes
should be established,
and all employees
should be drilled to use
either route.
• Exits should be clearly
marked and all signs lit
and unobstructed.

7. Remember to RACE during a fire
• R escue – rescue clients in immediate
danger.
• A lert – yell out “Code Red”/”Fire” (or
whatever your facility implementing procedure dictates), pull
fire alarm, dial emergency phone
number.
• C ontain – Close all doors and windows.
• E xtinguish/Evacuate – Extinguish small
fires, evacuate clients, if appropriate.

8. Fire Extinguishers
• Remember this easy acronym when using
an extinguisher - P.A.S.S.
• Pull the pin.
• Aim the nozzle.
• Squeeze the handle.
• Sweep side to side at the base of
the fire.
• NOTE: If, when using a fire extinguisher, the fire is
physically larger than you can safely handle, evacuate
the area and notify others by activating the
emergency pull station and call 911.

9. Remember the Following
• All Employees shall be
instructed in emergency
evacuation plans.
• Drills will be conducted.
• Smoking is prohibited in
most buildings and vehicles.
• Staff may smoke only outside the
buildings in designated areas.

10. THE END