In the early hours of June 14, 2017, a fire broke out at Grenfell Tower, a 24-storey residential building in London. Images of the fire and reports of the devastating casualties were widely broadcast on television and in the media, leaving a deep impression on the public.
More recently, near midnight on May 26, 2024, a fire broke out at “Qingkonghui,” a 28-storey residential tower in Hsinchu City, Taiwan. Two firefighters, Li Yong-zhen and Zhou Li-xin, tragically lost their lives during the rescue operation. More than 300 residents were not fully evacuated until the following afternoon, making it one of Taiwan’s most serious high-rise residential fires in recent years.
For anyone living in a high-rise or super high-rise building, especially in a densely populated city, one question naturally comes to mind:
If this happened to me, how would I protect myself?
(Image source: Downloaded from the internet.)
Why High-Rise Fires Are Especially Dangerous
Modern high-rise buildings are designed with fire-resistant materials and compartmentalized structures. However, once a fire occurs, it may produce large amounts of thick, toxic smoke. In addition, many high-rise buildings exceed the reach of standard aerial ladder trucks, which typically reach only around the 12th or 13th floor. Although some specialized ladder trucks can reach approximately the 22nd floor, they are expensive and limited in number.
For this reason, high-rise fire safety must rely heavily on the building’s own fire protection systems and emergency response capabilities, including:
- Automatic fire alarm systems
- Automatic fire suppression systems
- Manual firefighting equipment
- Emergency broadcasting systems
- Smoke control and exhaust systems
- Evacuation and escape facilities
- Firefighter access and rescue equipment
- Fire and smoke compartmentation
It is also essential to carry out regular maintenance, inspection, and reporting of fire safety equipment to ensure that all systems remain fully functional. Regular fire drills and fire safety education are equally important.
The higher you live, the longer it may take to escape during a fire. That is why knowing what to do before an emergency happens can save your life.
Key Hazards of High-Rise Building Fires
1. Evacuation Is Difficult
High-rise buildings often have many floors, large floor areas, and a high number of occupants. When a fire occurs, evacuation depends not only on the building’s fire protection and escape facilities, but also on effective fire safety management.
If the fire spreads quickly, smoke fills the building, and large numbers of residents attempt to evacuate at the same time, it becomes extremely challenging to balance firefighting operations with safe evacuation.
2. Rescue Operations Are More Complex
Residents may be trapped on different floors and in different areas of the building. Due to terrain and height limitations, aerial ladder trucks may not be able to reach every floor. Complicated interior layouts, corridors, and partitions also make search and rescue operations more difficult.
3. Smoke Spreads Quickly
Thick, high-temperature smoke can block visibility and spread both horizontally and vertically through shafts, corridors, stairwells, and open spaces. This makes evacuation far more dangerous.
4. Heat Builds Up Rapidly
High-rise buildings are often enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. Once a fire occurs, heat may not dissipate easily. As temperatures rise, the environment becomes increasingly dangerous for both residents and firefighters.
5. Firefighting Is Physically Demanding
High-rise firefighting places a heavy burden on firefighters. They must carry hoses, nozzles, forcible entry tools, lighting equipment, generators, smoke ejectors, and other rescue equipment up multiple floors while wearing full protective gear and breathing apparatus.
By the time firefighters reach the fire floor, they may have already consumed significant physical energy. The greater the height and floor area, the longer and more dangerous the rescue operation becomes.
Stay Calm and Call 911 Immediately
When a fire occurs in a high-rise building, the first and most important thing is to stay calm.
If you see smoke or smell something burning, call 911 immediately. Clearly tell the dispatcher your exact location, including the building name, floor, unit number, and any visible signs of fire or smoke.
Because high-rise buildings are complex and contain many occupants, accurate location information helps firefighters quickly assess the situation, deploy personnel and equipment, and carry out rescue operations more effectively.
Step 1: Understand Where You Are in Relation to the Fire
When facing a fire, many people instinctively want to escape as quickly as possible.
But in a high-rise building, that may not always be the safest choice.
If the fire is not inside your unit, not in an adjacent room, and your room is not yet affected by fire or heavy smoke, the safer option may be to stay inside your room.
Why?
In many fire situations, especially on higher floors, escaping through smoke-filled corridors or stairwells can be extremely dangerous. Once you leave your room and try to go downstairs, you may be walking directly into smoke, heat, or flames.
However, if the stairwell is clear and has not been affected by fire or smoke, use the emergency stairs and move to a safe location as quickly as possible.
Step 2: Decide Whether to Stay or Leave
If You Stay Inside Your Room
Unless your room is directly affected by fire, stay inside and do not rush out.
Use wet towels or cloths to seal the gaps under the door, around the door frame, and near vents to reduce smoke entering the room. Stay low, move away from smoke, and wait for rescue.
If You Decide to Leave
Do not go upward to the roof unless instructed by emergency personnel. Do not use elevators. Do not break windows. Never attempt to jump from the building. These actions may put you in even greater danger.
Before leaving your room, remember to bring your key.
If the corridor or stairwell becomes blocked by smoke or fire, you may need to return to your room and shelter in place.
Follow Firefighters’ Instructions
During a high-rise fire, always follow the instructions given by firefighters and emergency responders.
In a fire, one of the most important factors that can help you survive is knowing clearly what to do — and acting calmly, correctly, and at the right time.