What firefighters would like us to know

I've been appalled by the speculation that has surrounded last week's Colerain Township fire. The tragedy can, however, serve as a reason to educate ourselves on what we should do if there's a fire in our own home. Here's some basic advice from local firefighters -- easier to absorb in calm rather than in a time of emergency:

Call 911 and trust the dispatcher. The dispatcher is much more than an operator. He or she is feeding crucial information to a radio dispatcher who sends it along to firefighters en route. Staying calm and answering completely is the best head start you can give firefighters.

Don't try to fight a fire yourself. Just don't. As the firefighters stressed, don't think a fire extinguisher will save your life. If you do take any action, remember to keep yourself between the door and the fire. Always leave yourself a way out.

Don't call for help from inside the house. Sounds like a no-brainer, but under stress lots of people call while they're trying to size up the fire inside.

Meet the firefighters when they roll up, identify yourself as the owner and stay available for questions. The two crucial pieces of information are if anyone is still in the house, and if there are any hazards such as gasoline or gunpowder that firefighters should be warned of.

Once out, never go back in.

Realize that a fire sends even level-headed thinkers into confusion. It messes with people's sense of location and sense of time. Concentrate on a few simple absolutes -- getting out of the house, speaking clearly to dispatchers, knowing every family member's location, rather than trying to take matters into your how hands or be a rescuer.