Hospitals have hundreds of patients, visitors and health care professionals who are at risk in case of a fire. Health care setups are particularly high risk zones for fires because of the chemicals, materials and other consumables used. Hospitals may be well equipped with all gears required to combat a fire emergency, but lack of knowledge among staff regarding its usage will prove it futile. All healthcare facilities must have a plan for the protection of all persons on their premises and for their evacuation from the building in case of fire. Recent fire accidents in two of the reputed tertiary care teaching hospitals in Mangalore and the ill-fated fire accident in AMRI Hospital, Kolkata have provoked the need for this study.