Fire produces deadly heated gases and smoke that can kill you long before the flames reach you. A closed door will keep out gases and heat for some time if a fire should occur in another part of the house. The simple procedure of closing your door can retard the spread of fire and give you much more time to escape, according to the National Fire Protection Association. If a fire should start inside a bedroom, a closed door can help to prevent its rapid spread to other rooms. Hold fire drills, sometimes at night, so that everyone knows exactly what to do.
Speed is vital.
Make provisions for elderly persons or very young children. Assign someone to help them out. Agree on a meeting place, outside, such as a tree in the front yard, where all must assemble after evacuation so that you will know the house is vacant. No one should reenter the house. Get out of the house as rapidly as possible, and do not stop to collect belongings.