FIRE THAT YOU CANNOT EXTINGUISH QUICKLY OR WHOSE SOURCE YOU CANNOT LOCATE –  CALL 911. Use a cell phone, if possible, so that you can remain on the line and give information and receive instructions. PULL THE ALARM IN YOUR STAIRWELL to warn other residents to evacuate.  Please remember the stairwell alarms are NOT connected to either the fire department or the police department. Get everyone and your pets out of the unit immediately. FIRE OR SMOKE THAT TRAPS YOU IN YOUR OWN UNIT –  CALL 911. Use a cell phone, if possible, so that you can remain on the line and give information and receive instructions. Touch your unit’s front door lightly to see if it is hot.  If it is, DO NOT OPEN YOUR DOOR!  The flames will rush inside at you. If smoke is entering your unit, quickly grab several towels, soak them in water, and insert them in the spaces where the smoke is entering to prevent more smoke from coming in. Look out your windows for firefighters and signal to them; at night, use a flashlight to help firefighters locate you. As a last resort, you could make an emergency ladder for yourself to get out through a window by tying a sheet to the bottom leg of a bed or a comparably heavy piece of furniture near a window.  Throw the other end of the sheet out of the window and then start climbing out of the window carefully holding on to the sheet with both legs and hands.  It may be difficult to do, but others have done this before.

1. If something is burning or flaming on a stove or in an oven or microwave, or in another cooking appliance:
   1. first, turn off the stove, oven, or appliance;
   2. second, with good protection for your face, hands, and arms, put the burning food in the sink;
   3. third, open windows to let in fresh air.
2. DO NOT PUT WATER on anything cooked in oil or the oil will spatter and may burn your skin or clothes, making the situation worse.
3. To put out the burning or flaming food:
   1. smother the fire with something non-flammable like a large lid, or
   2. use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
4. If you cannot extinguish the burning or flaming food fire quickly:
   1. CALL 911. Use a cell phone, if possible, so that you can remain on the line and give information and receive instructions.
   2. Pull the alarm in your stairwell to warn other residents to evacuate.  Please remember the stairwell alarms are NOT connected to either the fire department or the police department.
   3. Get everyone and your pets out of the unit immediately.

THE BEST WAY TO PREPARE FOR A FIRE IS TO PREVENT A FIRE.

In Our Common Areas –

All buildings in McLean Gardens meet the fire safety codes of the District of Columbia.  All first alarms and fire extinguishers are tested annually by licensed and certified contractors and are replaced as needed.  Entryways, stairwells, and trash rooms are lit 24 hours/day.

• Fire alarms are located on all four levels of each entryway.  These alarms are NOT CONNECTED to the fire department.

Therefore, IN CASE OF FIRE,

1. CALL 911,   Use a cell phone, if possible, so that you can remain on the line and give information and receive instructions.
2. Pull the alarm in your stairwell to warn other residents to evacuate.

•  Fire extinguishers are located on all four levels of each entryway.

• Heat sensors are installed in all trash, storage, and electrical rooms.  These are hard-wired to the electric system and are inter-connected (i.e., all will sound at the same time).

• DC Fire Regulations and MGCA policy require that hallways be kept clear at all times.  Therefore, residents are prohibited from storing any items in the halls.  Management will confiscate items found in the entryways and stairwells.

• Storage rooms must be kept free of any fire hazard.

• Smoking is prohibited in building common areas, the pool area, and the community center.

• Do not park your car on top of piles of leaves at any time of year.  Catalytic converters can be hot enough to ignite the leaves.  Two cars caught on fire in McLean Gardens in this manner.

In Your Unit –

All units are equipped with hard-wired smoke detectors.  Duplex and loft units should have upper- and lower-level detectors that are inter-connected.  Please note that not all smoke detectors have battery back-up in case of power failure.  In-Unit Maintenance can install new smoke detectors with battery back-up or test your current detector [hyperlink to eForm].

Fire prevention steps you can take: for those items with an *, you can use the In-Unit Maintenance Program to assist you [hyperlike to eform].

• Maintain your smoke detectors:*
  • Test and replace batteries twice per year (perhaps when clocks are changed).
  • Consider installing additional smoke detectors in bedroom(s).
• Watch what you heat!  Unattended cooking is the leading cause of kitchen fires.
• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food.  If you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.
  • Check regularly on food that is simmering, baking, or roasting.  Remain in your unit while food is cooking.
• Turn off stoves, toaster ovens, unplug irons, etc. before leaving home.
• Purchase a fire extinguisher for your unit; small ones for apartments are available at hardware and home stores and on the internet.

• Follow manufacturer’s guidelines on use of extension cords to avoid overload.

• Check electrical cords and appliances to ensure they are not overloaded.*

• Clean your clothes dryer vent twice per year; lint accumulates wether or not the dryer is vented to the outdoors.*

• Clean up clutter, especially flammable items!

• Unplug as many appliances, electronics, and lamps as possible before going away on vacation.

• Purchase an emergency portable roll-up fire escape ladder – one that is recommended by fire experts.  The local fire department will have suggestions on where to purchase a ladder appropriate for your unit.  Our nearest Firehouse is located at 4300 Wisconsin Ave. NW; (202) 673.3220.