Home Fire Escape Planning Each year there are millions of fires, thousands of deaths, tens of thousands of injuries, and billions of dollars lost to fire. The District of Columbia has the second highest fire death rate in the United States. Residential fires account for 70% to 80% of all civilian fire deaths in the United States. To reduce your risk of becoming a statistic, follow the fire safety tips below: The free smoke alarms are available for private residents only, not multi-family dwellings. Install and Maintain Smoke Detectors Install a smoke detector outside of every sleeping area. Install a smoke detector on every level of your home. Test your smoke detector monthly. Change the battery in your smoke detector twice a year when you change the time on your clocks. If you would like to receive a free smoke detector through the District's Fire/EMS give-away program, please complete the online Smoke Detector Request Form. Draw an Escape Plan of Your House Include all doors and windows. Have a primary and a secondary escape route from every area. Select a safe meeting place outside your home and show it on your plan. Practice the Plan with Your Family First walk through your plan. Practice your plan at least twice a year. Alternate between day and night, primary and secondary escape routes. Get Out and Stay Out If you smell smoke, see fire, or hear your smoke detector, follow your escape plan. Get low—crawl to avoid the dangers of heat and smoke. Feel the door with the back of your hand. If the door is hot, do not open. Use your alternate exit, such as a window. Never use elevators. Use the stairs. Once out—stay out. Go to Your Safe Meeting Place Gather at your designated meeting place. Ensure your entire family is accounted for. Notify the first arriving fire company that all members have been accounted for; if not, tell them how many persons are missing, their approximate ages, and location last seen. Call for Help When your family is gathered at your meeting place, send one person to a neighbor's house to call the Fire Department. Call 911, stay calm, give the operator your address, and relay the nature of the call. Stay on the line until the operator tells you to hang up. For more information about making a home fire escape plan, contact the Public Information office (PIO) at (202) 673-3331