Check 10 Survival Tips for Escaping Fires in Entertainment Venues: Proper Fire Evacuation to Increase Chances of Survival

Following the brewery fire incident in Ladprao, Thairath Online invites you to explore 10 survival tips for fires in entertainment venues, along with an understanding of four highly dangerous fire phenomena to watch out for in order to save your life.

The fire at a well-known brewery in Ladprao caused widespread alarm in society. Although the fire was controlled, the incident serves as a reminder that fire disasters can occur anytime, especially in enclosed areas like entertainment venues, restaurants, or pubs and bars.

Looking back at Thailand’s past fire disasters, such as the Santika Pub fire (2009) or the Mountain B fire (2022), these incidents highlight that entertainment venues carry high risks due to their enclosed structures, loud noise that may drown out alarms, and combustible decorative materials. Data from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) emphasizes that the most crucial factor for survival is"presence of mind and knowing the correct survival techniques."

Thairath Online has compiled 10 survival methods for fires in entertainment venues, along with an in-depth look at four severe fire phenomena you need to know to escape with your life.

10 Survival Tips for Fires in Entertainment Venues

When you step into an entertainment venue, the fun may cause you to overlook safety. But if an emergency occurs, following these 10 steps will significantly increase your chance of survival.

1. Immediately look for emergency exits upon entering: Every time you enter an entertainment venue, look for emergency exit signs and always remember their locations.
2. Stay calm and control panic: If you hear an alarm or see smoke, avoid screaming or running chaotically, as this can cause deadly stampedes.
3. Stay low to avoid toxic smoke: Smoke rises, so lower your head or crawl on your knees to breathe oxygen closer to the ground.
4. Cover your nose and mouth with a damp cloth: If you have water nearby, pour it onto a handkerchief or clothing andcover your noseto filter out smoke and heat vapors.
5. Walk close to walls or partitions: In dark, smoke-filled conditions, feeling along walls with your hands helps guide you to the exit.
6. Never use elevators: During a fire, power may cut out suddenly, trapping you inside an elevator and cutting off air.
7. Check the door’s heat before opening: If you need to open a door, touch the back of your hand to the door or knob. If it feels hot, do not open it, as fire may be on the other side.
8. Don’t worry about belongings: Leave all unnecessary items behind. Do not waste time collecting bags or taking photos or videos. Your life is most important.
9. Avoid areas with flammable materials: Stay away from foam soundproofing, curtains, or piles of combustible items.
10. Once outside, do not re-enter under any circumstances: Whether to retrieve forgotten items or look for friends, do not go back, as the structure may collapse at any time.

In-depth look at 4 dangerous fire phenomena you should know before it’s too late

Besides finding escape routes, understanding fire behavior is essential because enclosed spaces like entertainment venues often experience chemical phenomena that cause fire to intensify in seconds, such as:

1. Flashover (simultaneous full-room fire ignition))

• Flashover What is it: This occurs when heat accumulates in a closed room to a critical point (about 500-600°C), causing all objects in the room to ignite simultaneously without direct flame contact.
• How to survive: If you feel intense heat burning your skin and see dense black smoke accumulating at the ceiling, immediately crouch low and exit the area before it becomes a fiery inferno.

2. Backdraft (fire explosion due to sudden oxygen influx)

• What is Backdraft: It happens when a fire burns in a sealed room with depleted oxygen but accumulated heat and fuel gases. Opening a door or window suddenly lets oxygen rush in, causing a violent explosion outward.
• How to survive: Watch for warning signs like extremely hot doors and smoke puffing out rhythmically from door edges like breathing. Do not open that door; find another escape route immediately.

3. Rollover (flames racing along the ceiling)

• What is Rollover: Unburned gases rise and accumulate near the ceiling, and when mixed with enough oxygen, they ignite rapidly, creating flames that race across the ceiling.
• How to survive: When you see flames moving along the ceiling, it means the heat above is very high. Drop down and crawl as low as possible to avoid the dangerous heat.

4. Flameover (rapid surface fire spread)

• What is Flameover: This phenomenon involves flames rapidly spreading over surfaces of objects or walls, especially in venues using flammable foam soundproofing or wallpaper.
• How to survive: Avoid fleeing through routes lined with flammable walls or ceilings and try to find the shortest exit.

The brewery fire in Ladprao and lessons from past incidents remind us that disasters can happen anytime. Staying calm and knowing correct survival methods are your best protection to ensure you and your loved ones get home safely.