Safety Tips: Burglar Bars

Each year, nearly 3,000 Americans die in fires, and over 10,000 are injured. While security bars can protect your home from intruders, they can also block escape routes in a fire. To help prevent fire-related injuries and deaths caused by security bars, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue offers essential safety tips for homeowners.

Watch the video on Burglar Bar Danger

• Install Quick-Release Devices on Barred Windows and Doors
  To ensure a safe escape during an emergency, security bars on windows and doors should be equipped with quick-release devices. These devices allow bars to be easily opened from the inside without keys, special knowledge or excessive force. They provide a fast exit while maintaining your home’s security
• Consider Retrofitting Current Security Bars
  Security bars can block escape routes during a fire and hinder firefighters' efforts to rescue you. If your home has permanently fixed bars or lacks quick-release devices, consider retrofitting them to allow for easy and safe emergency exits
• Be Aware of Security Bar Issues When Practicing Fire Escape Routes
  
  • Practice your fire escape plan regularly—at least once a month—to ensure windows and doors are clear and functional for a quick escape. Check that windows open easily, screens can be removed quickly, and security bars have quick-release devices
  • Make sure everyone in the family knows how to operate locked or barred windows and doors and confirm that they open wide enough for an escape. This preparation is crucial to safely exiting in the event of a fire

• Plan Two Exits from Every Room
  A good escape plan includes two exits from each room. You'll need an alternative if one exit is blocked by smoke or fire. Consider a window leading to an adjacent roof or a collapsible ladder for upper-story escapes. Be sure to purchase only Underwriters Laboratory (UL)-approved ladders for safety and reliability
• Ensure Working Smoke Alarms
  Installing working smoke alarms on every level of your home significantly boosts your chances of survival. Test the alarms monthly, replace the batteries at least once a year, and consider replacing the entire unit every 10 years or as the manufacturer recommends
• Designate a Meeting Place Outside and Take Attendance
  Choose a specific meeting spot away from the home for everyone to gather after evacuating. For example, use a nearby tree, the end of the driveway, or the front sidewalk to ensure all family members are accounted for. Assign someone to go to a neighbor's house or use a mobile phone to call 911
• Once Out, Stay Out
  Always escape first, then call 911. Never re-enter a burning building for any reason. Teach children to stay visible and never hide from firefighters. Your safety is the priority