Occupants who are on the floor below the fire should:

Occupants who are on the floor below the fire should stay where they are primarily for safety reasons. When fire is present in a building, conditions can change rapidly, and moving towards an exit route could expose individuals to smoke or flames. Staying in place can allow occupants to remain in a safer area until help arrives or until it is deemed safe to evacuate by trained personnel.

Additionally, it is important for those on the floor below to seal any gaps to prevent smoke from entering and to signal for help, potentially making themselves visible to rescuers. This option minimizes the risk of encountering dangerous conditions while providing a moment to assess the situation more carefully.

Evacuating immediately might lead to unsafe encounters with fire or smoke, checking for smoke could put individuals in harm's way without a clear plan for what to do afterwards, and calling 911, while important, should not replace the immediate actions to ensure safety first.