Fire escape plan for an apartment

In an apartment building, your way out depends on the hallway, the stairs and your neighbors. A plan made now, while nothing is burning, is the one you'll remember when the alarm goes off.

Make the plan

Know two ways out of every room. A window can be one of them if it's safe to use.
Know where all the exit stairs on your floor are, in case the nearest one is blocked by fire or smoke.
Pick a meeting place outside, like a light post or a mailbox, where everyone in your home will meet.
Ask your landlord or building manager about the building's fire alarms, sprinklers and what to do when the alarm sounds.
Practice the plan twice a year.

When the alarm sounds

Feel the door before you open it. If it's hot, use another way out. If it's cool, leave by the nearest way out.
Close doors behind you as you leave.
Use the stairs. Don't use the elevator unless the fire department tells you to.
If there's smoke, get low and crawl under it to your exit.
Go to your meeting place, stay there and call 911.

If there's a fire and you see it, pull the fire alarm on your way out so your neighbors and the fire department know.

If you can't get out

In some apartment buildings, staying in your unit can be safer than going into a smoky hallway. Learn your building's plan.

If you can't get out, stay behind a closed door as far from the fire as you can. Put wet towels or sheets around the door and vents to keep smoke out. Call 911 and tell them where you are. Open a window slightly and wave a bright cloth to show where you are, and close it again if smoke gets worse.

Every night

Sleep with your bedroom door closed. A closed door slows smoke and flames and gives you more time to get out.

Rent your home? Get the free move-in safety checklist. Own or manage rentals? SaferResident gives every tenant a 20 minute course on this, built around your building.

For landlords: try it free See the course

Sources

How to make a home fire escape plan, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
High-rise Apartment and Condominium Safety (tip sheet, PDF), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Escape Plan Guide: High-Rise Apartment (PDF), UL Research Institutes, Fire Safety Research Institute (UL FSRI)
Close Your Door: Close Before You Doze, UL Research Institutes, Fire Safety Research Institute (UL FSRI)
Home Fires, Ready.gov (FEMA)

Updated October 1, 2026. General safety information. It doesn't replace your building's safety systems, local codes or your lease. In an emergency, call 911.