Section 807. Fire drills  


Latest version.
  • 1. It shall be the duty of the principal or other
      person  in  charge  of  every  public  or  private school or educational
      institution within the state, other than colleges  or  universities,  to
      instruct  and train the pupils by means of drills, so that they may in a
      sudden emergency be able to leave the school building  in  the  shortest
      possible  time  and  without  confusion  or  panic. Such drills or rapid
      dismissals shall be held at least twelve  times  in  each  school  year,
      eight of which required drills shall be held between September first and
      December  first  of  each  such  year.  At  least  one-third of all such
      required drills shall be through use of the fire  escapes  on  buildings
      where  fire  escapes  are  provided.  In the course of at least one such
      drill, pupils shall be instructed in the procedure to be followed in the
      event that a fire occurs during lunch  period,  provided  however,  that
      such  additional  instruction may be waived where a drill is held during
      the regular school lunch period. At least four additional  drills  shall
      be  held  in  each  school year during the hours after sunset and before
      sunrise in school buildings in which students are provided with sleeping
      accommodations.  At least two additional drills  shall  be  held  during
      summer  school in buildings where summer school is conducted, and one of
      such drills shall be held during the first week of summer school.
        1-a. In the case of  after-school  programs,  events  or  performances
      which  are  conducted within a school building and which include persons
      who do not  regularly  attend  classes  in  such  school  building,  the
      principal  or  other  person in charge of the building shall require the
      teacher or person in charge  of  such  after-school  program,  event  or
      performance  to  notify  persons  in attendance at the beginning of each
      such program, event or performance, of the procedures to be followed  in
      the event of an emergency so that they may be able to leave the building
      in a timely, orderly manner.
        2.  It  shall be the duty of the board of education or school board or
      other body having control of the schools in  any  district  or  city  to
      cause  a  copy  of  this section to be printed in the manual or handbook
      prepared for the guidance of teachers, where such manual or handbook  is
      in use or may hereafter come into use.
        3.  It  shall  be  the duty of the person in charge of every public or
      private college or university within the state, to  instruct  and  train
      the  students by means of drills, so that they may in a sudden emergency
      be able to leave the college or  university  building  in  the  shortest
      possible time and without confusion or panic.  Such drills shall be held
      at least three times in each year, one of which required drills shall be
      held  between  September  first and December first of each such year. In
      buildings where summer sessions are  conducted,  one  of  such  required
      drills  shall  be  held during the first week of such summer session. At
      least one of such required drills shall  be  through  use  of  the  fire
      escapes  on  buildings  where  fire  escapes  are provided. At least one
      additional drill shall be held in  each  year  during  the  hours  after
      sunset  and  before  sunrise in college or university buildings in which
      students are provided with sleeping accommodations.
        4. Neglect by any principal or other person in charge of any public or
      private school or educational institution to comply with the  provisions
      of  this  section shall be a misdemeanor punishable at the discretion of
      the court by a fine not exceeding fifty dollars; such fine to be paid to
      the pension fund of the local fire department  where  there  is  such  a
      fund.