Fire in public places and high-rise buildings

In public places — malls, cinemas, the metro, offices, schools — the factor of large crowds is added, and with it the risk of crushing and panic, which is sometimes more dangerous than the fire itself. The main thing is to stay calm and not give in to the crowd. On entering an unfamiliar building, note the emergency exits at once and do not rely only on the entrance you came in by: the main entrance is often blocked by the crowd during a fire, while the emergency exits are clear.

When evacuating a crowded place, move with the general flow, but do not push or overtake at a run, and do not create counter-flows. If you fall in the crowd, get up quickly protecting your head and chest; help others up. Do not bend down for dropped items. Keep away from glass shopfronts and walls the crowd might press you against. Follow the instructions of staff and security — they are trained in evacuation and know all the exits.

High-rise buildings have their own specifics. Lifts are entirely excluded; evacuation goes down smoke-free stairwells. If the seat of fire is above you, go down; if it is below and the stairs are already cut off by smoke, it is sometimes safer to go up to the roof (if the exit is open) or take up defense in a room and wait for rescuers. In a high-rise, smoke spreads up vertical shafts and stairs very fast due to the "chimney effect", so decisions must be made without delay. Modern buildings may have fire-safe refuge areas and smoke-extraction systems — it is worth knowing in advance whether the places you frequent have them.