By Marcy Ost
As fire chiefs, we know that fire moves fast. But many people don’t realize just how fast. In just a few minutes, a small flame can turn into a deadly inferno. That’s why fire safety habits—like closing bedroom doors at night—are critical to saving lives.
The Power of a Closed Door
Studies from UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) have shown that a simple closed door can mean the difference between life and death in a house fire. When a fire breaks out, rooms with closed doors have significantly lower temperatures, less smoke, and more breathable air than rooms with open doors.
Without a closed door, temperatures in a room can soar past 1,000°F in minutes. Toxic gases fill the air, making it nearly impossible to breathe. But a closed door acts as a barrier, slowing the spread of flames and reducing dangerous smoke and heat. This gives occupants more time to escape and firefighters more time to rescue them.
Why It Matters for Firefighters
For fire chiefs and firefighters, this message is more than just a public safety tip—it’s a strategy that improves survival rates. When people sleep with their doors closed, it increases their chances of making it through the fire alive, allowing responders to reach them faster and under better conditions.
Encouraging this habit also means fewer burn victims, fewer smoke inhalation injuries, and more lives saved in the communities we serve.
How to Spread the Word
To make “Close Before You Doze” a common practice, we need to integrate it into our fire safety outreach. Here are a few ways to do that:
- Include it in fire safety presentations – Teach it at schools, senior centers, and community events.
- Use social media – Share videos and infographics showing the impact of a closed door.
- Work with schools – Encourage kids to take the message home to their families.
- Reinforce it during fire inspections – Remind residents of the importance of sleeping with doors closed.
Final Thoughts
As leaders in fire safety, it’s our job to promote simple, effective actions that save lives. “Close Before You Doze” is a message that’s easy to understand and even easier to practice. By pushing this initiative, we can reduce fire fatalities and keep more people safe.
Let’s make sure our communities hear it loud and clear—close before you doze!