WOODLAND, Calif. -- Any firefighter will tell you, every fire is different. No one can never predict what will happen, or even how they will will react in a crisis like that.
The best thing to do is to have a plan. Family members should all know where fire extinguishers are, and how to get out when the time comes.
Woodland fire captain Eric Zane recommended coming up with a fire escape plan as a family.
"It's a scary subject to talk about fires with a five-year-old," said one mother. "No one think it's it's going to happen to them."
But five is actually the ideal age for parents to have this conversation. Zane said the most important thing is to have multiple routes to exit.
"Having two ways out of a home is extremely important." Zane advised parents to shut all the doors each night. This keeps fire from expanding.
He said teach your kids to feel the door's temperature. If it's warm, use the window.
"Ensure your children understand are are capable of sliding the window open, pushing the screen out, and then exiting the house. They should understand the locking mechanism."
For multi-level homes, store an easily accessible ladder. The next step: select a meeting spot outside.
"The first thing we want to know as fire fighters is is that there's a meeting spot and everyone is there. We can change our efforts to suppression and not rescue, Zane said.
Zane also noted that the most important thing was making sure there is a functioning smoke alarm in every single room. He also advised going over the escape plan with the entire family at least once a year.
