HAMBURG, N.Y. — Every second matters when you’re dealing with a house fire. They’re more common during the fall and winter months.

That’s why it’s important to be prepared.

Jamie Hoelscher spoke to Spectrum News 1 about her experience as she washed the chemicals off her fire ladder. It's a job that's way easier for her than forgetting the trauma her family experienced on September 29.

“The second I opened the door and all the hot smoke and heat hit my face.”

She woke up to a call that her building was on fire. Her exits were all blocked. The only thing she could use to get out was a fire ladder she bought for $60.

“I grabbed the ladder...well, the ladder box. I ripped it open and I'm actually even mad at myself. I'm like, I should have taken it out of the box because I mean seconds matter...seconds matter. I'm getting goosebumps,” she recalled.

Hoelscher bought the ladder in January after a fatal fire in her same apartment complex.

She never expected to need it in her own building, less than a year later.

“This is, this is the mess here," she said, walking up to the scene. "And that's my bedroom window up there. On the left.”

The damage left behind helped piece together what happened.

“You could still see the screen I punched out. I guess I had a hulk moment," she joked, holding up a busted-out screen window. "But [the fire ladder] got us and held our weight and yeah, it happened that fast.”

She realized that it could have been worse.

North Boston Fire captain Sean Crotty responded to that fire.

“We talk about EDITH - exit drills in the home," said Crotty. " Practice it, make the meeting point outside, make it important.”

Seeing Hoelscher and her kids prepared for an emergency is a big success story.

“You have one chance to make that decision," Crotty said.

For him, investing in fire alarms, extinguishers and fire ladders is an easy call. It's around a hundred bucks that can make a big difference.

“It is one of those things that you hope for the best and truly prepare for the worst,” he said.

So Hoelscher is ready.

“We all made it down safely and it's just amazing that my kids want to sleep with that ladder," said Hoelscher. "It saved their life”

She's not procrastinating precautions.

“I'm bringing it everywhere I go," she said. "It's definitely a staple.”

Because when it comes to fire safety, it’s a few simple steps that could be the difference between life and death. 

North Boston FD regularly holds safety events. The next one is the trunk or treat/open house on October 22 at 11 a.m. at 6746 Mill Street.