If your friend in the NYFD advices sealing the fire, please have him
explain the need for Fire Axes on their trucks.


Sorry, Thom. Your dead wrong. For years the FDNY has been running a campaign
"Close the Door" as part of their effort to save lives.
Read on from the FDNY site....


Get everyone out. Stay low as you go out. Close but don't lock all doors in the
apartment as you leave.
Alert others on the floor by knocking on doors. Activate the fire alarm if
there is one.
Go down the nearest STAIRWAY, holding the railing.
Call the Fire Department from a floor BELOW THE FIRE or from a street fire
alarm box outside.
If the Fire is NOT in Your Apartment
Stay inside rather than entering smoke-filled hallways, especially if the fire
is on a floor below your apartment.
Keep your door closed.
Seal the door with duct tape or wet sheets and towels. Seal ventilators and any
other openings where smoke may enter.
Turn off air conditioners.
Fill your bathtub with water. If the front door gets hot, wet it down.
Unless flames or smoke are coming from below, open your windows a few inches at
the top or bottom. Don't break the windows; they may need to be closed later.
Call the Fire Department with your apartment number and a description of the
conditions in your apartment. Firefighters will be directed to your location.
If you feel you are in grave danger, open a window and wave a bed sheet for
firefighters to spot you.

The link...http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/sa...highrise.shtml

Like I said, Thom. I didn't make this up. It's basic fire survival. Closing the
door is the final defense, cutting off the heat from you and limiting oxygen to
the fire.

RB