High Rise Fire Evacuation: To Stay or Go

The traditional advice to evacuate immediately during any fire is not always appropriate in a high rise. Evacuating through a smoke-filled stairwell can be more dangerous than sheltering in place behind a fire-rated door. Modern high rise fire response increasingly emphasizes making evacuation decisions based on the actual location and severity of the fire.

If you are on the fire floor or one floor above, immediate evacuation is essential. If you are on floors far from the fire floor, staying in place with doors closed and awaiting instructions from building management or fire department personnel is often the safer choice.

Firefighters recommend that high rise occupants familiarize themselves with the location of all stairwells in their building—ideally two or more—and practice using them. Knowing where the stairs are and how to reach them without relying on elevators is critical. Stairwell doors should never be propped open, as this defeats their smoke containment function.