Upon seeing smoke coming from a utility room, what should you do first?

When encountering smoke coming from a utility room, the priority is to ensure personal safety and assess the situation before taking any action. Pausing to assess for hazards is essential because it helps determine whether it is safe to enter the room. Factors to consider include the intensity of the smoke, the potential presence of toxic fumes, the source of the fire, and any visible flames.

By taking a moment to assess the situation, you can identify whether there are immediate dangers, such as fire spreading or other hazards that could jeopardize your safety. This careful approach helps prevent reckless decisions that could lead to injury or worsen the situation.

While calling for help, such as emergency services, is crucial, it should ideally follow this initial assessment unless the situation is immediately life-threatening. Rushing in without assessing the risks may compromise not only your safety but also that of anyone who might still be inside. Using a fire extinguisher could be applicable in certain circumstances, but only if you are sure it is safe to do so and the fire is small enough to be effectively managed.