Act now
Emergency: get out and call 911
Smoke or flames in the house is a fire. Get everyone out, stay out, and call 911.
Why this happens
The American Red Cross says the rule when a fire starts is to get out, stay out and call 911. Leave your things where they are and go outside right away.
Do this now
- Get everyone out of the house now. Leave your things where they are.
- Once you are outside, call 911 or send one person to call. Don't stop inside to make the call.
- Never open a door that is warm to the touch. If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under it.
- If smoke, heat or flames block every way out, stay in a room with the door closed, put a wet towel under it, call 911 and wave a bright cloth or flashlight from a window.
- Don't go back inside for any reason. Don't stop to shut off the furnace.
When to stop. Stay out until the fire department says you can go back in.
What to tell the HVAC technician
- Where you first noticed the smell, smoke or flames.
- Whether the furnace was running.
- Any smell you noticed before the smoke, such as burning plastic or gas.
Build the full list: what to tell the HVAC technician.
Start this troubleshooter over
References (every fact above comes from one of these pages)
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