Series 6000: Instruction

6114.1 Fire Emergency

Fire Emergency

In the event that fire is discovered in any of the school plants, the Fire Department shall be called immediately following giving the signal to evacuate the building.

The Principal of each school shall hold at least one fire drill each month in which all students, teachers and other employees shall be required to leave the school building. A crisis response drill may be substituted for one of the required monthly school fire drills every three months.

1. Students must leave the building in an orderly and rapid manner and teachers are required to check to ascertain that no student remains in the building.

2. Real emergencies often call for alternate exits to be used. Teachers must be prepared to select and direct their classes to these alternate exits in the event the designated escape route is blocked.

3. A record shall be kept in the Principal's office of each fire drill conducted. A copy of the record shall also be filed in the Office of the Superintendent.

Principals and teachers shall recognize that the essential element in any emergency is prevention of panic. Principals and teachers shall afford students such confidence as clarity of direction and supervision can contribute.

Legal Reference:

Connecticut General Statutes 10-231

Fire drills (as amended by PA 00-220)

Policy adopted: October 15, 2007 THOMASTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS Thomaston, Connecticut 

6114.1 (a)

Fire Drills

Fire drills will be held at least once a month during the school year. Directions for egress of students from rooms are posted in each room.

1. Ringing the Fire Alarm

All fire alarms shall be rung by the Principal or someone designated by him/her. NO OTHER PERSON may ring the alarm, except as noted below.

If the fire alarm rings at any time and the Principal has not been responsible for ringing it, the Fire Department will respond immediately, since it will be assumed that there is a fire.

If a fire is discovered by an adult, he or she should sound the alarm without delay. If a student discovers a fire, he/she should notify the nearest adult who will ring the alarm.

2. General Rules

a. Teacher and School Personnel

(1) During a fire drill all school personnel are to leave the building. The classroom teachers should be the last persons to leave their classrooms.

(2) Teachers are responsible for the safe conduct of the students from their rooms to places of safety outside the building.

(3) Teachers should instruct students to walk quietly to the exits. Classes then shall proceed to a safe distance from the building. Teachers and students should be positive they know where to go and how to get there.

(4) Teachers should check that their whole class is out of the building. Windows and doors are shut by the teacher when rooms are emptied.

(5) Teachers should take their marking book with them during every fire drill, so that a roll may be taken.

(6) The custodian checks the building

b. Students

(1) When the fire alarm sounds, all students should stop what they are doing; stand; form in line and walk out the proper exit in an orderly fashion.

(2) Any student not in the classroom should immediately join the nearest line of students and pass with that line. The student then becomes the responsibility of the teacher who is in charge of that line.

(3) No student is to go back into the building until the outside bell is rung signaling that it is safe to return.

(4) Students are not to run, shove or monitor exit doors.

(5) Silence must be maintained so that students may hear the teacher’s directions.

(6) Students and teachers should stay as low as possible to avoid the inhalation of smoke.

3. Fire Drill Procedures

Building administrators are responsible for fire drill procedures in their own school. These procedures should be known by all staff and teachers.

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes

10-231 Fire drills

Regulation approved: October 15, 2007 THOMASTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS Thomaston, Connecticut