This is very informative, Thanks

I could be one of those people. Honestly it depends on the cause. If somebody pulled the alarm I don't blame the hotel. But if it is due to mechanical problem then I do blame the hotel. When I purchase a room one of the key factors is quality of sleep. If the false alarm occurs before midnight it is generally no harm, no foul. But at 4am I would definitely be stale.

I always have one hotel keycard in my wallet - so if you remember to grab your wallet, you have a key.

I happened across this article about a fatal hotel fire in Scotland. Pretty dramatic video of the start of the fire and photos of the widespread damage to the building.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland...-west-55765595

It's another cautionary tale about the importance of knowing the location of emergency exits and responding promptly to an alarm rather than waiting to see if it might be a false one.

That could have been prevented!
 

Very sad that two people died; training could have help preventing the fire. Also, it seems they were directing the extinguishers towards the top and not necessarily towards the fuel/source of fire.. Again, know your surroundings immediately after you check in to your room!

Even as a firefighter, there is not enough information make a fully informed judgement about the video. I'll add my two cents worth, however. Maybe they could have closed the door to the pantry and contained the fire? The first instinct of course is to try to fight the fire with an available extinguisher. But a fire of that volume was impossible to fight with an extinguisher or two. It is unlikely that the employee with the extinguisher could have pointed it toward the actual source of the fire due to the heat at the time. I did see that an employee was on the front desk phone, hopefully calling the Scotland equivalent of 911. And hopefully someone activated the fire alarm (if it existed).

As others have said, know your exits. And don't ignore fire alarms. You never know in the middle of the night whether or not it is a false alarm. Don't take chances.

If I am lodging in a rental apartment, or maybe in a less developed country, I carry a combination smoke/CO detector. CO will kill more quickly. You never know what exhaust from gas appliances is leaking into your room.

to survive hotel fire you need to go for some rules guided by the hotel itself

In the event of a hotel fire, it is important to remain calm and take the following steps to ensure your safety:

1. Evacuate the building: If you hear a fire alarm or see smoke, immediately evacuate the building using the nearest available exit. Do not use elevators as they may become trapped during a fire.
   
2. Stay low: When exiting the building, stay low to the ground to avoid inhaling smoke and toxic fumes.
   
3. Close doors behind you: Close doors behind you as you evacuate to slow the spread of the fire and smoke.
   
4. Call emergency services: Dial 911 or the local emergency number to report the fire and request assistance.
   
5. Check for others: Make sure everyone in your party is accounted for and evacuate together.
   
6. Follow emergency signage: Follow emergency signage and instructions provided by hotel staff to reach a safe location outside the building.
   
7. Stay outside: Do not re-enter the building until you are instructed to do so by the fire department or emergency personnel.
   

It is important to familiarize yourself with the fire safety procedures of any hotel you stay in and to always have a plan in place in case of an emergency. Regular fire drills and hotel staff training can also help to ensure everyone is prepared in the event of a fire.

How to Survive a Hotel Fire.
 

Maybe it is time to start a new thread, "How to Protect Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning."?

I am writing this due to the two recent deaths at a Hyatt property. Admittedly speculative, but the deaths appear to be caused by "gas" poisoning.

A few thoughts.

• Carbon monoxide (CO - not CO2) is a component of the exhaust generated by a petroleum-based substance when burned. This petroleum-based substance could be fuel oil or any number of gases (natural, LPG, propane, etc.).
• This is a year around issue because water heaters, pool heaters, fire pits, generators, etc. are in use. And of course in the winter time, you add regular heat.
• CO is a odorless, colorless gas that can kill you, even in relatively low concentrations. (Gases, such a natural, LPG, propane, etc., at least in most of the world, have a distinctive odor...you'll know if you have a gas leak.)
• In the US, one rarely hears of serious illness or death due to CO poisoning in a commercial structure, such as a hotel, simply due to building codes and required inspections. But, especially in the winter, there are a great number of CO-related illnesses and deaths, in single and multi family homes, upwards of 50,000 annually. This is primarily due to either poorly maintained equipment or doing things like running a generator in an enclosed area, inadvertently not shutting off the car in the garage, etc.
• Who knows what standards other countries have for maintaining petroleum powered devices?

While off topic, if you have ANY petroleum-powered appliances at your residence, PLEASE be sure you have combination smoke and CO detectors. As a first responder, I've seen the results of CO poisoning.

I am going to order this product from Amazon and start carrying it with me.


This can simply sit on the night stand, or a like area.

1. Be Prepared in Advance:
   
   • Familiarize yourself with the hotel's fire safety measures and evacuation procedures upon check-in.
   • Locate the nearest fire exits and stairwells to your room.
   • Ensure you have a working knowledge of how to activate the fire alarm system and where the fire extinguishers are located.
2. Alert the Authorities:
   
   • If you discover a fire, immediately activate the fire alarm by pulling the nearest fire alarm lever or pressing the designated button. This will alert hotel staff and other guests to the emergency.
   • Dial the emergency number (such as 911) to report the fire and provide them with the hotel's address and your room number.
3. Stay Calm and Assess the Situation:
   
   • Evaluate the severity of the fire. If the fire is small and contained, you may attempt to extinguish it with a fire extinguisher if you have been trained to do so. However, your personal safety should always be the top priority, so do not put yourself at risk if the fire is spreading rapidly.
4. Evacuate Your Room:
   
   • Leave the room immediately, closing the door behind you. Touch the door handle to check for heat before opening it. If it feels hot or emits smoke, do not open it as there may be fire on the other side.
   • Crawl along the floor if necessary to avoid inhaling smoke, as smoke rises.
   • If you encounter thick smoke in a corridor, try an alternate escape route, such as using another stairwell or waiting for rescue at a window.
5. Use Stairwells, Not Elevators:
   
   • Always use the stairs during a fire evacuation. Elevators should not be used in fire situations, as they can malfunction or trap you inside.
6. Stay Low and Cover Your Nose:
   
   • Smoke rises, so staying low to the ground provides cleaner air to breathe. Cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth or a piece of clothing to filter the smoke as much as possible.
7. Communicate and Help Others:
   
   • Alert other guests along your evacuation route, banging on doors and shouting to ensure everyone is aware of the situation.
   • Assist anyone who may have difficulty evacuating, such as elderly individuals or those with disabilities, if it is safe to do so.
8. Assemble at a Safe Location:
   
   • Once outside the building, proceed to the designated meeting point or a safe distance away from the hotel, as directed by emergency personnel.
   • Do not re-enter the building until authorities have confirmed it is safe to do so.

Remember, these are general guidelines, and it's important to follow any specific fire safety instructions provided by the hotel. Being prepared, staying calm, and taking immediate action are key to increasing your chances of safely surviving a hotel fire.

Great article. Thanks for sharing. This information might come in handy someday.

Thank you, that is a really valuable post. It could really save someones life. I hope I won't ever be in a situation like that, but you never know. And it's better to know what to do just in case. I'll share this information with my family. We're going to be in a hotel for 2 weeks, so I want to make sure everyone knows how to stay safe.

It's too long...