The CCFD works with all Clayton County school principals to plan fire drills. Schools are built to be safe from fire, and serious fires in school buildings rarely happen. However, if a fire does start, students and staff can escape safely if they've practiced an escape plan. That's why schools have fire drills. It's important to have an escape plan so that everyone knows what to do in the event the fire alarm sounds. Time counts in a fire emergency and confusion can be dangerous.

How does Your School Measure Up? As a part of our commitment to the community, we will be posting Fire Exit Drill reports on our Web site to keep you informed as to how your school measures up.

Conducting School Fire Drills

• Have fire drills monthly;
• Document and report drills to the Fire Marshal (form available online);
• Only use the fire alarm to initiate fire drills;
• Do not prop exit doors open before the fire drill begins;
• Assign someone to notify portable classrooms;
• Do not have a pre-drill meeting before all fire drills;
• Assign specific meeting places for each classroom or group;
• Make sure occupants exit to a distance of at least 100' from the building;
• Make sure several staff members know how to reset the fire alarm;
• Do not expect to hand out walkie-talkies in the event of a fire;
• Hold fire drills at different times, some when students are not in classrooms;
• Be sure to close door to prevent the spread of smoke and fire;
• Don't let students and staff use the same exit every fire drill;
• Assign someone to bring out the visitor sign in log to account for visitors;
• Notify the Fire Department and the 911 center before conducting the fire drill;
• Account for students and staff once everyone is out of the building;
• Make sure NO ONE goes back into the building until the all-clear signal is given;
• Assign someone to assist any impaired persons;
• Make sure you are not sending students of faculty out to block Fire Department apparatus, fire hydrants, or the Fire Department sprinkler connection.

If you need forms to complete, click here.