Apartment Fire Safety: How to Prevent Fires and Make an Escape Plan for Your Building

Quick answer: in an apartment, the biggest fire risks are unattended cooking, heating equipment, smoking, electrical problems and lithium-ion batteries. Test smoke alarms monthly, keep a small multipurpose extinguisher in the kitchen, and know two ways out of your unit and building. If the fire is in your unit, get out, close the door behind you and pull the alarm. If the fire is elsewhere, follow your building’s fire plan: in many high-rises, that means staying in your unit with the door closed unless smoke or fire threatens it. Never use elevators during a fire.

Apartment living brings unique fire safety challenges. Your safety depends partly on your neighbors’ habits, the building’s alarms and sprinklers, and stairwells you may never have walked. Escape can mean several flights of stairs, and in a tall building the safest choice is not always to leave right away.

The good news is that a few habits and a clear plan dramatically improve your odds. This guide covers prevention, alarms, escape planning and what to do in the moment, building on our apartment emergency kit guide.

Sources: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) home fire statistics and high-rise apartment safety tips; U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) fire safety guidance; UL Solutions Fire Safety Research Institute “Close Before You Doze” research; New York City Fire Department (FDNY) lithium-ion battery safety guidance; New York City Local Law 39 of 2023. This article is general safety information; always follow your building’s fire safety plan and local fire department instructions. Checked October 2026.

Why Apartment Fire Safety Is Different

Shared walls and shared risk

A fire in a neighbor’s unit can spread smoke into hallways and stairwells. Your plan needs to account for fires that start outside your apartment.

Building systems matter

Many apartment buildings have fire alarms, sprinklers, fire doors and standpipes. Knowing how they work, and keeping them unobstructed, is part of staying safe.

Escape can be complex

Upper floors, long hallways, locked roof doors and unfamiliar stairwells all affect how you get out. Elevators should not be used during a fire.

The Leading Causes of Home Fires

According to the NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Other major causes include heating equipment, electrical distribution and lighting equipment, intentional fires and smoking materials. Smoking is a leading cause of home fire deaths.

Cooking safety

• Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, boiling or broiling.
• Keep towels, oven mitts and packaging away from burners.
• Keep a lid nearby to smother a small pan fire, and turn off the burner.
• Never throw water on a grease fire.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

Heating safety

• Keep space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, a guideline from the NFPA and USFA.
• Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet, not an extension cord or power strip.
• Turn heaters off when leaving the room or going to sleep.

Electrical safety

• Replace frayed cords and do not run cords under rugs.
• Avoid overloading outlets and power strips.
• Report flickering lights, warm outlets or burning smells to your landlord promptly.

Extension cords are meant for temporary use, not as permanent wiring. Plug major appliances, such as space heaters and air conditioners, directly into a wall outlet, and do not run electrical cords through doorways or under furniture, where they can be pinched or damaged.

Candles and smoking

• Use battery-operated candles where possible.
• Smoke outside if you smoke, and use deep, sturdy ashtrays.
• Never smoke in bed or when drowsy.

Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Growing Apartment Risk

Lithium-ion batteries power phones, laptops, power tools, e-bikes and e-scooters. When damaged, overcharged or poorly made, they can overheat and burn intensely. The FDNY has repeatedly warned about deadly fires caused by e-bike and e-scooter batteries in New York City apartments.

Battery safety tips

• Buy certified products. Look for e-bikes and e-scooters certified to UL 2849 or UL 2272 standards. New York City’s Local Law 39 of 2023 prohibits the sale of e-bikes, e-scooters and batteries that are not certified to these standards.
• Use the manufacturer’s charger.
• Do not charge overnight or while away from home.
• Keep e-bikes out of exit paths. Never block a door or hallway with them.
• Stop using damaged batteries that are swollen, leaking, hot or smell unusual.
• Recycle batteries properly, never in the household trash.

Power banks used for outages carry similar risks, so store and charge them carefully.

Smoke Alarms and Apartment Fire Safety

According to the NFPA, almost three of every five home fire deaths result from fires in properties with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

What renters should know

• Landlords are typically required to install smoke alarms; requirements vary by state and city.
• Tenants are often responsible for testing alarms and replacing batteries, depending on local law and the lease.
• Test alarms monthly by pressing the test button.
• Report broken alarms to your landlord in writing right away.
• Never disable an alarm, even when cooking sets it off.

An operable smoke alarm is one that sounds when tested. NFPA recommends replacing smoke alarms when they are 10 years old, or sooner if they do not respond when tested. A damaged smoke alarm, such as one that is cracked, painted over, chirping after a new battery or missing its cover, should be reported to your landlord right away. Interconnected alarms, where one sounding sets off the others, give the earliest warning.

Carbon monoxide alarms

Many states and cities require CO alarms in apartments with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages. Test them monthly as well.

Fire Extinguishers for Apartment Fire Safety

A small multipurpose extinguisher, commonly labeled ABC, is a good addition to an apartment kitchen. Use it only for small, contained fires and only if you have a clear exit behind you.

Remember the PASS method:

• Pull the pin.
• Aim low at the base of the fire.
• Squeeze the handle.
• Sweep from side to side.

If the fire grows or the room fills with smoke, leave immediately.

Make an Apartment Fire Escape Plan

Learn your building

• Find two ways out of your unit, if possible, and at least two stairwells out of the building.
• Count the doors between your unit and each stairwell, so you can find them in smoke.
• Find the fire alarm pull stations on your floor.
• Ask your building manager about the building’s fire safety plan and whether the building is fire-resistant and sprinklered.

• Know the location of the nearest fire exit and the exit doors on your floor, and look for the lighted exit signs that mark them.
• Learn which building stairwells lead outside and whether any stairway doors lock behind you, so you are not trapped in a stairwell.
• Read the posted building evacuation plan, if your building has one, and find out whether your building tells residents to evacuate or stay in place for fires on other floors.

Practice

• Walk your escape routes with everyone in your household.
• Practice in the dark or with eyes closed, carefully, to simulate smoke.
• Choose an outdoor meeting place away from the building.

Plan for everyone

Consider children, older adults, pets and anyone with mobility limits. People who cannot use stairs should discuss options with building management and the local fire department ahead of time. A family emergency communication plan helps everyone reconnect after an evacuation.

What to Do If Fire Is in Your Unit

1. Get everyone out immediately.
2. Close the door behind you to contain smoke and fire.
3. Pull the fire alarm on your way out.
4. Use the stairs, never the elevator.
5. Call 911 once safe, giving your address and unit number.
6. Do not go back for belongings or pets.

What to Do If Fire Is Elsewhere in the Building

Check before opening the door

Feel the door and doorknob with the back of your hand. If it is hot, or smoke is seeping in, do not open it.

If the hallway is clear

Follow your building’s plan. In many buildings, that means leaving by the nearest safe stairwell. In fire-resistant high-rises, the NFPA and many fire departments advise that staying inside your unit may be safer if the fire is not near you, because hallways and stairs can fill with smoke. Follow instructions from building announcements and firefighters.

If you stay inside

• Close doors between you and the fire.
• Seal gaps around doors and vents with wet towels or tape.
• Call 911 and tell them your unit number and that you are inside.
• Signal from a window with a light-colored cloth or flashlight.
• Open a window slightly for fresh air if no smoke is outside, but be ready to close it.

Our article on sheltering in place explains more about sealing a room.

Close Before You Doze

Research by the UL Solutions Fire Safety Research Institute found that a closed door can dramatically reduce heat, smoke and toxic gases in a room during a fire. The “Close Before You Doze” campaign encourages sleeping with bedroom doors closed.

Protect Important Documents

Fires move quickly, and there is no time to search for papers. Store copies of IDs, insurance policies and leases digitally, and keep originals in a fire-resistant container. Our guide to gathering and protecting emergency documents covers what to save.

Renters Insurance and Fire

A landlord’s insurance usually covers the building, not your belongings. Renters insurance can help cover personal property and temporary living costs after a fire. Read your policy to understand limits and exclusions, and keep a simple home inventory, such as a phone video walking through each room, to make any future claim easier.

Fire Safety for Pets

Pets cannot escape on their own, and firefighters may not know they are inside.

• Use a pet alert sticker on a front window or door so responders know how many animals live in the unit.
• Keep leashes and carriers near the exit so you can grab them quickly if it is safe.
• Never delay your own escape to search for a hiding pet. Tell firefighters where the pet is likely to be.
• Pet-proof the stove. Pets jumping on counters can accidentally turn on stove knobs; knob covers help.

Planning for Older Adults and People With Disabilities

Stairs, long hallways and alarms that rely only on sound can all create barriers.

• Smoke alarms with strobe lights or bed shakers are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Ask building management about evacuation plans for residents who cannot use stairs, and whether the building has areas of refuge.
• Tell the local fire department if someone in the home may need help evacuating, if your community keeps such a list.
• Keep mobility aids, glasses and hearing aids near the bed so they can be grabbed quickly.

A high-rise also brings challenges when the power fails, since elevators stop and hallways go dark. Our guide to preparing for a power outage in a high-rise covers stairwell lighting and planning for residents with limited mobility.

After a Fire

The hours and days after a fire can be overwhelming. A few steps help.

• Do not reenter until the fire department says it is safe.
• Contact your landlord and your renters insurance company as soon as possible.
• Reach out to the American Red Cross, which often provides emergency help such as temporary lodging, food and clothing after home fires.
• Document damage with photos and keep receipts for emergency expenses.
• Replace important documents such as IDs and bank cards, and notify your bank if cards were lost.
• Throw out food, drinks and medicines exposed to heat, smoke or soot, following the U.S. Fire Administration’s guidance on recovering after a fire.

Apartment Fire Safety Checklist

Task	How often
Test smoke and CO alarms	Monthly
Walk escape routes	Twice a year
Check extinguisher gauge	Monthly
Inspect cords and outlets	Every few months
Check that stairwell doors close properly	Report problems immediately
Review fire plan with household	Twice a year

Apartment Building Fire Safety Features

• Never prop open fire doors. They slow the spread of fire and smoke.
• Keep hallways and stairwells clear of bikes, strollers and trash.
• Do not hang items from sprinkler heads.
• Report blocked exits or broken alarms to management.

Stairway doors are fire doors. They are designed to stay closed so smoke and heat do not fill the stairwell that residents need for escape. When you leave during a fire, close the doors behind you, including your unit door, and use the stairs, never the elevator, unless the fire department tells you otherwise. NFPA notes that many apartment buildings are built to contain fires, which is why your building evacuation plan may differ from advice for single-family homes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I stay in my apartment during a fire?

If the fire is in your unit, leave immediately. If it is elsewhere, follow your building’s plan; in many fire-resistant high-rises, staying in your unit with the door closed may be safer unless smoke or fire threatens it.

Can I use the elevator in a fire?

No. Use the stairs unless firefighters direct otherwise.

Who is responsible for smoke alarms in an apartment?

Landlords typically install them, and tenants often test them and replace batteries, but rules vary by location.

What fire extinguisher is best for an apartment?

A small multipurpose ABC extinguisher works for most household fires.

Are e-bike batteries a fire risk?

Yes. Use certified products, the manufacturer’s charger and never charge overnight or in exit paths.

How do I find the nearest fire exit in my apartment building?

Walk your floor and locate every exit door and stairwell, following the lighted exit signs. Count the doors from your unit to each one so you can find them by touch if smoke makes it hard to see.

Should stairway doors be kept closed in an apartment building?

Yes. Stairway doors are fire doors that keep smoke and fire out of the stairwells. Never prop them open, and report any that do not close or latch to building management.

Sources

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Home fire statistics; high-rise apartment and condominium safety tips; smoke alarm facts.
• U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). Home fire safety and heating safety guidance.
• UL Solutions Fire Safety Research Institute. Close Before You Doze.
• New York City Fire Department (FDNY). Lithium-ion battery safety.
• New York City Local Law 39 of 2023.