In the early 20th century most municipalities were encouraged by multiple fatality fires to take note of fire safety in public places. Some of these ideas included not locking exit doors, marking said doors, building standpipes and installing high tech fire alarms. But none of this matters if people ignore the bells and flashing lights when the alarms sound.
THE EMERGENCY
Automatic alarm activation at an elementary school
THE ACTION
I’ve only seen half a dozen actual fires in a school during the school day, one of those when I was a student. Surprisingly, way back then, they didn’t activate the fire alarm evacuation, but instead chose to shelter the students in place.
Back to today.
I am an imposing figure in full gear. I have been known to scare small children visiting the firehouse when I am geared up. When we arrive on the scene of a reported fire we take it seriously since most of our City is made of 100 year old wood and spaced 1/8″ apart. The alarm bell is ringing and strobe lights flashing when the engine arrives.
The usual administrator, hand held radio to her ear, is meeting us at the alarm panel as our officer investigates the source of the alarm. As he does that I hear the truck company arriving and grab another administrator, similar radio and stance and ask what I thought was an important question.
“Has the school been evacuated?” All I was thinking about was back in 8th grade when they ignored the plan.
“Yes, it’s clear.” She tells me, and you already know where this story is going.
“General alarm, second floor” the officer calls out and I gather my tools and away I go. I have my usual 40 lbs of turnout gear, helmet, 40 lb airpack, flat head axe and 10 gallon water can in hand. My eyes are flying around the hallway looking for smoke, flames, a pulled hand alarm station or the tell tale red light on a smoke detector. As my eyes are moving they come across a human form in the hallway who sees me and quickly turns away.
“Hi…Fire alarm, you need to evacuate the building.” Maybe she didn’t hear me.
“Hi,” I reach her and look into the classroom directly in front of her. “Fire ala…Hi there, Fire Department, those lights and the alarm mean you need to leave the building,” I said to the half dozen adults and TWO CHILDREN sitting in the classroom.
“Oh, OK, we thought it was a false alarm, so-” she began, but I had no patience for the example they were setting.
“Now. Down the steps to the front. Now, thank you.” I said with what I perceived as forceful, but kind. Standing 6’3″, 6’8″ with helmet and all that gear, I hoped to put the fear of those trapped in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory into them, but I likely only made them uneasy for a few minutes.
Back downstairs a few minutes later without signs of a fire, I inform the officer of the folks upstairs and he spun on a top to the administrators, radios still to their ears.
I didn’t hear the entire conversation, by choice, as I see people squirm enough in the ambulance, but I can only hope it was something out of an episode of Hell’s Kitchen.
Also on The Happy Medic…
- …building alarm box… – March 25, 2009
- That’s twice – January 19, 2010
- Where there’s smoke… – April 29, 2010
- …for the smoker in the building… – May 7, 2009
.jpg)
