Smoke or gas smell: get safe first

Recognise the priority

Smoke and a gas smell can have different causes, but neither signal should be investigated at close range. Alert anyone with you, take only what you already carry, and move towards a usable exit.

If someone does not respond or the danger increases, do not spend time reconstructing what happened. Reaching clean air and distance comes first; qualified services should investigate the cause.

Leave without improvising

Use the clear route you already know and do not go back for belongings or to check a room. If smoke blocks one route, choose another safe exit and follow firefighters’ directions.

Do not move through dense smoke or use lifts when evacuation is affected. Help people nearby only while you can do so without stopping or exposing yourself to danger.

Suspected gas: no flames or switches

If the smell suggests a gas leak, do not turn lights on or off, strike matches, or operate electrical equipment in the area. Do not look for a valve or leak while exposed.

Leave the building and create distance before calling. Do not try to fix the problem, restart appliances, or re-enter until the responsible service says it is safe.

Smoke: keep an exit available

With visible smoke, get low enough to orient yourself, move towards a clear exit, and close doors behind you without locking them. Do not open a door when heat or smoke on the other side signals danger.

If you are trapped, close the door, make yourself visible from a window if possible, and call responders with your location. Follow their instructions; never attempt a jump or hazardous route.

Call with essential facts

From safety, give the full address, entrance or floor, presence of smoke or gas smell, people not yet accounted for, and hazards you can actually observe. Describe facts without guessing the cause.

Use the emergency number that applies where you are and answer the operator’s questions. Do not end the call until the operator tells you to; chat cannot replace emergency services.

Coordinate without re-entering

Once safe, send family a short message with the meeting point and who is already outside. Avoid unverified details that could distract people trying to find help.

When there is no incident, agree two exits, an outdoor meeting point, and who contacts services. Keep the address and numbers accessible, and practise without smoke, flames, or risky simulations.

Frequently asked questions