How can building occupants improve fire safety?

Building occupants can significantly improve fire safety by maintaining clear escape routes and reporting potential hazards. Clear escape routes are essential during an emergency to ensure that everyone can exit the building quickly and safely without obstruction. This involves keeping hallways, stairwells, and exits free from any obstacles such as furniture, storage items, or any other materials that may impede swift evacuation.

Additionally, reporting potential hazards to the appropriate authorities is crucial for fire safety. This includes identifying and alerting others about faulty wiring, blocked fire exits, or malfunctioning smoke detectors. Early reporting can lead to prompt action, reducing the risk of fire incidents and ensuring that problems are addressed before they escalate into dangerous situations.

The other options suggest behaviors that would compromise fire safety. Hoarding combustible materials adds fuel to a potential fire, neglecting drills and safety measures hinders preparedness, and ignoring smoke detector alerts can prevent timely evacuation during an emergency. These actions do not contribute to a safe environment, highlighting the importance of proactive measures like maintaining clear escape routes and reporting hazards.