Aventura is a city of towers. Many of us live ten, twenty or thirty floors up, with a long hallway and a stairwell between us and the street. Modern high-rises have sprinklers, alarms and fire doors, but the first few minutes of any kitchen or electrical fire still happen inside your own unit.
This checklist covers what you can control. Always follow your building's fire plan and your local fire department's guidance.
In the kitchen
- Hang a fire blanket within reach of the stove, not inside a cabinet.
- Keep a rated A, B and C extinguisher near the kitchen exit, and learn the PASS method: pull, aim, squeeze, sweep.
- Never use water on a grease fire.
Outlets and wiring
Space heaters, portable AC units and chargers all draw power. An electrical fire prevention sensor watches for the overheating that often comes before smoke. Do not run heaters on extension cords.
Alarms that talk to each other
If your unit has hardwired alarms, replace them before they reach ten years old. Interconnected alarms mean a fire in the kitchen sets off the alarm in the bedroom too. Test them monthly.
Your way out
- Know both stairwells on your floor. Never use the elevator during a fire.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- A flame-resistant escape cloak in the hall closet can protect an adult or carry a child through heat and smoke.
- If smoke blocks the hallway, stay in your unit, seal the door gaps with wet towels and call 911.
Make a plan together
Walk your family through the plan twice a year, ideally when the clocks change. Five minutes of practice is worth more than any product on this page.
