The smoke may indicate an active fire or immediate air hazard
Visible smoke, an alarm, a burning electrical odor, or rapidly increasing smoke requires evacuation and emergency response—not neighbor troubleshooting.
Why this result fits
- Smoke is visible, increasing, or accompanied by an alarm.
- There is a burning electrical, plastic, gas, or unknown odor.
- The source cannot be confidently identified as routine tobacco or cannabis smoke.
What to do now
Follow the building fire plan
Leave by the safest route when instructed or when smoke or fire is suspected; use stairs rather than elevators.
Call emergency services
Call from a safe location and describe smoke, odor, alarms, and the suspected floor or area.
Do not investigate
Close doors behind you if safe and do not enter smoky halls or another unit.
Stop and escalate if
- Any smoke alarm activates.
- Smoke reduces visibility or causes breathing symptoms.
- A door, wall, outlet, cord, or appliance is unusually hot.
What not to do
- Do not assume smoke is from a neighbor when the source is uncertain.
- Do not use an elevator during a suspected fire.
- Do not re-enter until authorities say it is safe.
Message you can send to maintenance
Urgent: visible or rapidly increasing smoke/a burning odor is present at [location], with [alarm/no alarm]. We followed the building fire plan and contacted emergency services.
Help prevent a repeat
- Know two exit routes.
- Report damaged fire doors, alarms, and blocked exits.
If this does not match
Sources and review date
- Preventing Exposure to Secondhand Smoke in the Home — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Content last reviewed: under the Apartmentwise methodology.