The tips to evacuate from a fire scene: “run while the fire is small, or close the door when there is dense smoke.”
 

1. How do I run from a small fire?

   “Check the escape route is clear and make your way downstairs” Always look out for the hidden killer in a fire ── dense smoke, because it is:

   1. Highly toxic

      The combustion produces carbon particles which are often accompanied by toxic gases and fumes, such as CO and cyanic acid. Once inhaled, these toxic gases and fumes can lead to hypoxia, fainting or even death.

   2. Fast to spread

      Smoke ascends around 3 to 5 m per second, far faster than it spreads horizontally at 0.5 to 1 m/sec. It is not likely to outrun smoke. For example, the tallest building in Taiwan, the Taipei 101, is 508 m tall. It takes smoke 2 minutes to reach the top level. It is rather dangerous to evacuate upstairs.

   3. Extremely hot

      High temperature makes evacuation difficult and event burns your skin. By summarizing the above, when a staircase is filled with dense smoke, since smoke ascends much faster than a person running upstairs, you are exposing yourself to very hot and dense smoke if you run upstairs. On top of that, once we are exposed to dense smoke, it is extremely likely to lose our judgment and even pass out. The rooftop that seems so close is in fact so far away.

2. What if I can’t make my way downstairs?

   1. Close the door for safety

      If evacuation downstairs is impossible, try “horizontal evacuation”, as you run to another safe area (or shelter in place if you are not at the ignition point). Close the door, stuff the door seams with towels and clothes to keep the smoke out, and wait for help.

   2. Don’t stay in bathroom

      The door and ceiling of a bathroom are mostly made of plastics that bend and buckle easily under high heat and, therefore, are unlikely to keep smoke out; in addition, the water drain is often provided with a “water trap” that keeps fresh air from coming into the bathroom; also, the bathroom of many households does not have a window open to the outdoor, which means no ventilation and no way to signal for help. Note: if a fire breaks out in basement, make your way to the first floor or outdoors.

1. Eligibility
   • (1) Eligibility 1: the socially disadvantaged of Taoyuan City, such as the elderly who are 65 years old or older and live alone, those with mental or physical disability and medium/low-income families.
   • (2) Eligibility 2: those who live in narrow alleys (the red zones) or around a building that has been caught on fire, and temples and shrines in residential areas.
   • (3) Eligibility 3: places specified in Paragraph 5, Article 6 of the Fire Services Act, such as old communities (military villages) and houses.
2. How to apply
   • (1) Register or apply to the fire station in the jurisdiction of where you live (in person, by phone or online).
   • (2) Ask local village office to collect all those who are interested into a list and submit the application to local fire station.
3. What to do when you find the subsidized fire alarm is not working:
   • (1) It is recommended to test the device according to the instructions provided with the product; once the malfunction is confirmed, call the supplier’s service phone line and ask them for replacement.
   • (2) Or, you may bring the device in question to your local fire station. The station staff will be happy to test the device for you. Once the malfunction is confirmed, they will help you to call the supplier for replacement.
4. One more reminder: the fire alarm subsidized by the Fire Department is “smoke-detecting” alarm. Users are advised to make sure it functions well by pushing the test button once every month. A “constant temperature” alarm is recommended at areas where there is frequently smoke, such as kitchen. This device activates when the temperature at the area reaches the set point, which prevents activation by mistake due to the smoke generated by cooking.

1. Where to install:

   • (1) The room where you sleep (bedroom)
   • (2) Kitchen
   • (3) Staircase:

     The floor where there is a bedroom; however, this does not apply to the evacuation floor.
     Top floor of the staircase that leads upstairs if the bedroom is only on the evacuation floor.

   • (4) Hallway (fire alarm is to be installed at a hallway for a place that does not comply with the 3 paragraphs above and where there are 5 or more rooms greater than 7 m2 on any floor; the alarm is to be installed at the staircase if there is no hallway).

2. Where to locate:

   • (1) On ceiling or at staircase:
     1. The bottom of the alarm is within 60 cm below the ceiling or floor slab;
     2. The alarm is located 60 cm or more away from wall or beam.
   • (2) The alarm located on a wall is between 15 cm and 50 cm from the ceiling or floor slab.
   • (3) The alarm is located 1.5 m or more away from air outlet.
   • (4) The alarm is installed at the center of a room in principle.

3. What type to choose depends on where to install:

   • (1) In a bedroom, staircase or hallway
     1. Smoke detection
     2. Ion-type, photoelectric type
   • (2) Kitchen
     1. Constant temperature type

4. How to install

   Fire alarm is easy to install. It is usually battery-powered and, therefore, needs no wiring. Read the instructions after you buy one. It is installed usually by cleaning the back of device first and then sticking it on ceiling, floor slab or wall.

5. Where to buy

   Fire alarms are sold at hardware stores, wholesale stores and online. Before you buy one, make sure it comes with the “Approved by National Fire Agency, Ministry of the Interior” label, which means the product is certified for effective protection.

1. Prevention of electric fires

   Electric fires are the top cause of fires in Taiwan and, therefore, not something to take lightly. The following are some of the key points that will help you check your place for fire safety:

   1. Do not tie up extension cable when it is in use, as this may generate heat and, therefore, leads to fire hazard. Keep flammable materials as far away as possible while using an extension cable.
   2. Pull the extension cable or appliance plug by grabbing the plug. Do not yank the cable as it may break the internal copper conductors, which can be a fire hazard.
   3. Disconnect the power plug when an appliance is not in use.
   4. Appliances requiring high power consumption, such as AC unit, dryer, microwave oven, oven, heater and rice cooker, shall not share the same wall socket or extension cable.
   5. The extension cable shall be provided with automatic overloading breaker.
   6. Flammable materials shall be kept away from appliances that generate heat while in use. Pay attention to your personal use habit; for example, do not use heater to dry your clothes, and do not leave an iron unattended for a long time while it is in use.

2. Other fires:

   One of the common causes of fire is children playing with fire, matches and lighters and, therefore these objects should be kept out of their reach. Recently, there are reports of fire caused by lithium batteries (in cell phone, for example). Therefore, keep the battery away from direct sunlight or heat source while it is being charged. Disconnect the charger after the battery is fully charged, as overcharging can be dangerous.

Cooking fire

Remember the principle of “turn the fire off after you.” If, unfortunately, a fire occurs, inform everyone at the place of fire and follow the 3 steps below: 

1. Cover the pot/wok; 
2. Turn the stove off; 
3. Let it cool off. 

Newly recruited volunteer firefighters (hereinafter referred to as new recruits) shall have the following qualifications:

1. A citizen of the Republic of China or foreigners (including residents from China, Hong Kong or Macao) with valid resident permits, aged 18 and above.
2. Resides in the local area and not taking part in any other volunteer or civil defense organizations.
3. Has not been sentenced to imprisonment within the past 10 years for nationals of the Republic of China, or during their stay in the Republic of China for foreigners (including residents from China, Hong Kong, and Macao). However, R.O.C. nationals with records of criminal negligence or probationary declaration are not limited to this.
   • Consultants are not subject to the provisions of Subparagraph 2 in the preceding Paragraph.
   • Men who have retired from their position as a substitute fire fighting civilian serviceman are the first eligible for hire as volunteer firefighters.
      

Article 4 of the Regulations for the Organization Procedure, Training Program, Drill and Service of the Voluntary Fire Fighters specifies that newly recruited volunteer firefighters (hereinafter referred to as new recruits) shall have the following qualifications:

1. A citizen of the Republic of China or foreigners (including residents from China, Hong Kong or Macao) with valid resident permits, aged 18 and above.
2. Resides in the local area and not taking part in any other volunteer or civil defense organizations.
3. Has not been sentenced to imprisonment within the past 10 years for nationals of the Republic of China, or during their stay in the Republic of China for foreigners (including residents from China, Hong Kong, and Macao). However, R.O.C. nationals with records of criminal negligence or probationary declaration are not limited to this.
   • Consultants are not subject to the provisions of Subparagraph 2 in the preceding Paragraph.
   • Men who have retired from their position as a substitute fire fighting civilian serviceman are the first eligible for hire as volunteer firefighters. Also, Regulations of Taoyuan City Fire Department for the Organization Procedure, Training Program, Drill and Service of the Voluntary Fire Fighters for Volunteer Firefighter Squadron specify that a person requires a “EMT license, first class” and receives 3 months or longer of practical training before becoming a volunteer rescue worker/firefighter. 
      

For the need to remove a bee hive or catch a snake, please call 119 or citizen service hotline at 1999. The request will be forwarded to the pest removal team of Department of Agriculture. They will send help.

1. Volunteers may participate in regular volunteer training, professional training, brigade parade, competitive contests, disaster relief ability assessment, and educational visits according to annual plan to improve the professional skills of volunteer firefighters and their safety in disaster relief.
2. Volunteer firefighters are provided with uniform life insurance and accident insurance coverage.
3. Volunteer firefighters are eligible for: volunteer firefighter welfare benefits, life insurance, accident insurance claims and scholarships for children.
4. Subsidies are available for hospitalization, funeral, retirement, and disability.

Pre-job training for new recruits:
New recruits who have passed the examination and are assigned to serve in the Department will undergo 6-month practical training and various physical skills training in order to quickly become competent in firefighting work and accelerate their familiarity with firefighting duty (and business), disaster relief and rescue skills. Senior colleagues of the brigade are assigned to serve as instructors to teach new recruits professional knowledge and practical experience in a mentoring system. In addition to performing behind-the-first-line duties such as logistics, water hose maneuvering, water supply and safety control at the disaster site, they also focus on brigade duty and business as well as logistics, and conduct training on fire prevention and disaster prevention propaganda, water source surveys, ambulance services, maintenance of vehicles and equipment, and duty desks.