D-40

School Fire Safety Policy

• Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) provides assistance to public, parochial, private, and outside school facilities for fire safety and prevention programs.
• This includes facilities such as trailers or vans.
• Each member is responsible for exercising control in implementing this directive, as dictated by their rank.

Station Captain Responsibilities

• Each Station Captain develops and maintains a list of all public, parochial, private, and outside school facilities in their local district.
• The Station Captain contacts these schools to establish and maintain communication with principals or their representatives.
• The Station Captain arranges meetings with officers and school representatives, promoting prompt fire reporting and investigation.
• This liaison ensures fire department cooperation and assistance in school fire safety programs.

PFD Services for Schools

• PFD offers advice on planning and executing fire drills, providing constructive criticism.
• PFD aids in developing Shelter-in-Place strategies, including site selection, supply locations, and communication policies for major incidents like chemical/biological events.
• The Fire Prevention Division provides a "Shelter-in-Place for Educational Facilities" booklet.
• PFD advises on correcting existing hazards and stresses the importance of keeping exit doors unlocked during occupancy.
• The Fire Prevention Division offers educational programs for faculty, students, and parents.
• A school Junior Fire Patrol should be organized with the assistance of the Fire Prevention Division.

Fire Drill Procedures

• The local Fire Company observes two fire drills at each school per year.
• One drill is observed early in the Fall term, with the second in the Spring semester.
• Fire Drill Critique Forms are available on the "P drive" of station computers, in the "Fire Prevention" folder.
• The school representative notifies the local Fire Company one week before the fire drill.
• The Company Officer arranges for the company to observe the drill.
• If it is necessary for the company to go out of service to observe a fire drill, the Company Officer notifies the Battalion Chief the day before.
• In this case, the company can place themselves out of service five minutes before the drill and remain out of service until the drill is complete.
• If the company doesn't need to go out of service, they can notify the Fire Communications Center that the company is "fire duty only" for the drill.
• The Battalion Chief coordinates all fire drills through the Deputy Chief, ensuring no adjacent companies are out of service simultaneously.
• Upon arrival, the Company Officer contacts either the Principal or their representative and physically checks evacuation plans together.
• Members are strategically placed throughout the building during drill observance.
• The Company Officer signs the school log, attesting PFD's drill observation, and leaves a signed Fire Drill Critique Form copy with the Principal.
• A critique will be held following the drill.
• PFD personnel offer constructive criticism to school officials, where needed; remarks go on the second page of School Fire Drill Critique Form, for the Principal.
• Drills should align with the 2004 Philadelphia Fire Code and Philadelphia School District Policies and Procedures Number 110.
• Company officers will discuss any discrepancies with the school representative.
• Duplicate memos with all pertinent information get forwarded through channels.
• A second copy of the School Fire Drill Critique Form becomes a record of all attended school fire and Shelter-in-Place drills.
• This record gets kept in a company file.
• The third copy of the School Fire Drill Critique Form, with updated information, is forwarded to the Fire Prevention Division Youth Team Administrator for school system database updates.

Emergency Planning and Preparedness

• Monthly fire evacuation drills are required in all educational facilities and can be changed due to weather (408.3.2).
• The school schedules the first fire evacuation drill within ten classroom days of classes starting (408.3.1).
• Buildings needing evacuation plans must also have a plan for sheltering occupants in place.
• Educational facilities do two (2) Shelter-in-Place drills, annually (F-409.1).
• Each Shelter-in-Place drill can replace one evacuation drill.
• The Board of Education and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia cooperate with government agencies.
• Cooperation between PFD and school district personnel is important.

References

• 2004 Philadelphia Fire Code, Chapter #4 (Emergency Planning and Preparedness).
• Publications regarding school procedures have been distributed to each Engine Company, Battalion, and Division Headquarters.
• The School District of Philadelphia has "Policy and Procedure 110 and 112."
• The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has "In Case of Fire."
• A booklet exists for Shelter-in-Place For Educational Facilities.