DIEmergency action guide
What to Do When a Smoke Alarm Sounds
When a smoke alarm sounds in an unplanned event, the priority is evacuation—not finding the alarm, opening doors to investigate or collecting belongings.
Get outside
Use the planned escape route, help household members as your plan allows and go to the outside meeting place. Crawl low under smoke if necessary and check doors for heat before opening.
Stay outside and call 911
Call from outdoors or a safe neighboring location. Do not re-enter for people, pets or possessions. Tell responders if someone may still be inside.
Treat uncertainty as danger
You may not see flames when the alarm first sounds. Smoke can spread before fire is visible, and a delayed evacuation loses the early-warning benefit the alarm provides.
Service comes afterward
Only after emergency responders determine the home is safe should you investigate maintenance, replacement or nuisance-alarm causes. Detector Inspectors is not an emergency response service.
Safety references
Primary sources used for this page:
Manufacturer instructions and current local requirements control. For an emergency, call 911.