When you detect a fire

When you detect a fire

• Call the Emergency Response Centre at 112 and report a fire.
• Notify people nearby.
• Activate the fire alarm system if there is one in the building.
• Help people get away from a dangerous place without putting yourself at risk. Do it only if they are in danger.
• Start by extinguishing the fire with available tools when possible. Do not put yourself at risk.
• Go to the rescuers that have arrived and explain to them what you know about the fire.

When you call the Emergency Response Centre (112), say the following:

• What happened?
  
  Say briefly and clearly what happened and with what. This way, the rescue leader can figure out the problem faster. The Emergency Response Centre needs to know what exactly is burning – a building, a vehicle, rubbish, old grass, or something else. In the case of a building, it is important to know which floor is in danger, whether you see only smoke or also fire, and how big the fire is.
  
• Where did it happen?
  
  Provide the address of the accident as accurately as possible. The scene of the accident is usually given away by smoke.
  
  When the type, nature, and location of an accident are known, the right help will be available sooner.
  
• Did anyone get hurt or may anyone be in danger?
  
  An ambulance is not always dispatched together with the rescue team. It departs only when someone has been hurt or if there is a real danger of it. In the case of fires, this means that a person is or is believed to be in the area involved in the fire. If the caller can say this, the most important thing – the protection of human life – is ensured to the maximum extent.
  
• Can there be any additional dangers in a burning building?
  
  Additional dangers include gas cylinders, combustible liquids, explosives, and the like. They are often stored in attics or in adjoining buildings, such as garages or sheds. This is where the fire risk is often greater than in the dwellings, because the safety of these areas is not monitored as closely.
  
• What is the name and the contact phone number of the person making the call?
  
  The technology of the Emergency Response Centre allows most phone numbers to be identified immediately. However, the caller’s contact is still always asked because they might be calling from somebody else’s phone. It is always possible to call back to the right phone and ask for more information, for example, to specify the address or access options.