Published August 16, 2026 · By TAGCO Fire & Safety

What to Do When You See a Fire

Fire is one of the few emergencies where panic kills faster than the flames. The moment you spot fire or smell smoke, you have seconds — not minutes — to make decisions. Most people freeze, or worse, they do the exact wrong thing: hiding in a bathroom, opening a hot door, or going back inside for belongings. This guide is a simple, ordered plan you can follow even when your mind goes blank. Read it once, remember the four steps, and you'll know what to do when it matters most.

The Golden Rule: Remember R.A.C.E.

Firefighters and safety trainers worldwide use one acronym to cover the first critical moments. It's easy to remember even under stress:

• R — Rescue: Alert everyone nearby. Shout "FIRE! FIRE!" — do not assume others have seen it. Help children, elderly, or anyone who can't move quickly.
• A — Alarm: Raise the alarm. Press the fire alarm if the building has one, or call for help immediately.
• C — Contain: Close doors and windows behind you as you move. A closed door can hold back fire and smoke for precious minutes.
• E — Evacuate: Get out of the building and move to your meeting point. Once out, never go back inside.

Step-by-Step: What to Do in the First Minutes

1. Stay calm and alert others. Your first job is to make sure everyone knows. Shout loudly and clearly. In a workplace, activate the fire alarm if there is one.
2. Assess the size of the fire. If it's a small, contained fire — a wastepaper bin, a stove pan, a small electrical appliance — and you have the right extinguisher or a fire blanket within reach, you may fight it. If it's already spreading, skip fighting and evacuate.
3. Get everyone out. Leave belongings behind. Phones, money, documents — none of it is worth a life. Guide people toward the nearest exit.
4. Close doors behind you. Every closed door slows the fire. Close the door of the room where the fire started if you can do so safely.
5. Call the emergency services. In Pakistan, call Rescue 1122 (or the fire brigade / 16 for the Karachi Fire Brigade). Give your exact address, what is burning, and whether anyone is trapped. Don't hang up until they tell you to.
6. If there is smoke, stay low. Smoke rises — the cleanest air is near the floor. Crawl if you have to. Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth if possible.
7. Use the stairs, never the lift. Lifts can stop mid-shaft or open on the fire floor. In high-rise buildings, use the fire escape staircase.
8. Once outside, move to the meeting point and do a headcount. If someone is missing, tell the firefighters — do not go back in yourself.

When Can You Fight the Fire Yourself?

Fighting a fire is only sensible when all of these are true:

• The fire is small and contained (no larger than a wastepaper basket)
• You have the correct extinguisher or fire blanket — and you know how to use it
• You have a clear exit behind you
• Someone else is already calling for help
• There is no heavy smoke

If any of these is missing — leave immediately. The extinguisher is there to protect your escape route, not to make you a hero.

Using a Fire Extinguisher: The PASS Method

If you've decided to fight a small fire, remember PASS:

1. Pull the pin — break the tamper seal.
2. Aim low — point the nozzle at the base of the fire, not the flames.
3. Squeeze the handle — release the agent.
4. Sweep side to side — cover the base until the fire is out.

Stand about 2 metres away and keep your escape route behind you. If the extinguisher runs out and the fire isn't out — leave.

What NOT to Do — The Mistakes That Kill

• Never open a hot door. Touch the door with the back of your hand first. If it's hot, the fire is right behind it. Use another exit.
• Never use water on electrical or grease fires. Water conducts electricity and spreads burning oil. Use a fire blanket or an ABC/CO₂ extinguisher instead.
• Never hide. Firefighters search for people who hide under beds or in cupboards. Get out and be seen.
• Never use the lift. It can trap you.
• Never go back inside — not for a phone, not for money, not for a pet. Tell the firefighters; they have the training and the gear.
• Never waste time. If a fire is spreading, every minute you spend "trying to put it out" is a minute you lose for escape.

If Your Clothes Catch Fire: Stop, Drop, and Roll

If your clothing catches fire:

1. Stop — don't run. Running fans the flames.
2. Drop — get down on the ground.
3. Roll — roll over and over to smother the flames.

Cover your face with your hands while rolling. If someone else's clothes are on fire, use a fire blanket or a heavy cloth to smother the flames, then have them drop and roll.

What to Do After the Fire

• Treat burns with cool running water for 10–20 minutes. Do not apply ice, butter, toothpaste, or oils — they make burns worse. Do not pop blisters.
• Seek medical help for any burn larger than the palm of a hand, or any burn on the face, hands, or joints.
• Do not re-enter the building until the fire brigade says it's safe. Smoke can linger and structures can collapse.
• Check your extinguisher. If it was used — even briefly — it must be refilled or replaced. A used extinguisher is an empty promise.
• Review and improve. Why did it start? Were smoke alarms working? Was the escape route blocked? Fix it before the next time.

Prevention Is the Real Cure

The best fire response is the one you never need. A few simple habits cut most fire risk in Karachi homes and workplaces:

• Keep a working fire extinguisher (4kg ABC dry powder is the right size for most homes and shops) and a fire blanket in the kitchen
• Never leave cooking unattended; keep a lid nearby for pan fires
• Don't overload power strips and sockets — electrical short circuits are the #1 cause of fires in Karachi
• Keep exits and stairwells clear of goods and lockers
• Test smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries yearly
• Practise an escape plan with your family or staff — two ways out of every room

With the SBCA's 2026 regulations, every commercial shop in Karachi is now required to have at least one fire extinguisher. If you haven't got yours yet, that's the first step — and the easiest one.

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