School Fire Evacuation Drills

When schools develop evacuation plans and conduct fire drills, the students have a chance to learn what the fire alarm sounds like and to practice the evacuation procedures they must follow in case of fire. Fire evacuation drills should be held at least monthly, always without prior notification to students, teachers, or staff.

At the sound of the fire alarm signal, everyone should rise and file out in a line, row by row,   quickly, and quietly. Silence is essential so instructions can be heard and understood. Walk, do not  run. Running may cause confusion with persons falling down or blocking doorways, hampering the  exit of others.

Evacuation drills should be supplemented with a smoke drill at various intervals. To conduct a smoke drill, a sign reading "Smoke" is placed in the center of the corridor. When children reach the sign, they should turn around and use an alternate exit. If none exists or it is also blocked by smoke, the children should drop down and "crawl low" past the "smoke" sign.

The most successful school fire evacuation drill program is made up of intermittent evacuation drills throughout the year without any prior notice to participants. Teachers should receive their fire drill instructions and the exit routes for their specific classrooms before students arrive for the first day of classes at the beginning of the academic year. Fire drills should begin during the first week of school, especially for the benefit of new students and for those students whose rooms have been changed since the previous year. Subsequent drills should take place at least once during each month throughout the entire school year.

The element of surprise is always essential in any fire drill program. Teachers, students, and staff will benefit from evacuation drills at various times during the school's daily schedule. Only the principal should know in advance when the fire evacuation drill will be conducted.

Another vital element of a fire evacuation drill program is developing efficiency in the use of alternate exits with the (simulated) blocking of the customary main exit. Simulate the condition when the flame or smoke could block an exit by placing a barrier and sign across the exit. This simulation can be accomplished by stationing a person in a doorway holding a sign indicating:
"This Exit Blocked By Fire." 
Some additional important procedures regarding fire drills are:

Follow the fire department and school system reporting or notification procedure for the conduct of the evacuation drills.

Request fire department officials to evaluate and observe a fire evacuation drill.

Concentrate on getting everyone out of the building as promptly as possible, walking quickly and purposefully without running, pushing, or talking. Students must be able to hear instructions.

Have someone check to make sure that everyone is out of the non classroom areas, including rest rooms, locker rooms, library, cafeteria, and the extra-curricular activity areas.

Make sure that handicapped students are assisted in their evacuation of the extra-curricular activity areas.

Have each class proceed to a separate. predetermined area outside the building. Call the roll, and remain there until recalled or dismissed by the proper school authority. Locate these class meeting areas away from the school, and away from road and walkways which might be used by the fire department. Try to avoid having evacuating students cross streets or access roads.

Schedule fire evacuation drills throughout the year. Conduct evaluation drills so they occur when students are in various areas of the school, including the gymnasium, auditorium, laboratories, library, cafeteria, and classrooms. Occasionally, conduct the fire evacuation drill when the students are in motion during recess or when classes are changing and there is intensive use of corridors and stairways.

The fire alarm signal and the signal for the return to the building should be absolutely distinct from each other and from the normal school class signals. Some schools have utilized distinctively colored flags in addition to audible signals, to prevent confusion.

No one should stop during the evacuation to obtain personal possessions or school equipment.

No one should re-enter the building until authorized to do so by the proper authority. This authorization should come from the fire department during a fire situation, and from the principal during the evacuation drill. 

The school fire evacuation plan must contain preplanned arrangements to notify the fire department at the same moment the fire alarm is sounded in the school. In some cities, the school fire alarm system is designed so activation of the school fire alarm automatically and simultaneously transmits a signal to the fire department.

In most schools, while one person activates the school fire alarm, another person should be immediately calling the fire department. These responsibilities should be permanently assigned to specific staff persons, with permanent alternates designed to assume the responsibilities of any absentees. Remember, the fire department would rather respond to a small fire than to a large one. Call the fire department at the first indication of a fire situation, including noises. Never investigate indications of smoke or fire before calling the fire department.