Bangalore private schools don’t want to play with fire

It seems like private schools in the city are equipped to deal with fire outbreak; all the safety measures are in place and the schools conduct mock fire drills for the students and teachers regularly.

All the private schools that DNA visited to take stock of fire safety measures seemed well-equipped to handle a fire outbreak.

These schools have vast campuses, which itself helps in case of a fire accident. The fire extinguishers are in place and other safety measures enforced.

Also, the teachers and students of these schools are well-informed and trained to deal with such an emergency.

At Delhi Public School, different classes are housed in different buildings. Each block has one main exit and a fire exit. There are large playgrounds. This averts a stampede-like situation during evacuation.

“With regard to the design aspect, we have particularly looked into the design of the corridors and staircases with adequate number of fire-extinguishers. We also invite people from the fire department to train the students,” a DPS official said.

Trained hands in chemistry lab
Special care has been taken to ensure the safety of laboratories, which are particularly prone to catch fire. The official said they have two trained attendants for their chemistry lab, adding that they ensure that even the administrative staff of the school is trained in fire-safety measures. During functions at the school, a fire engine is stationed as a precaution.

At Little Flower Public School, the gas chamber has been placed outside the school building, conforming to the safety norms. B Gayathri Devi, principal of the school, said they ensure that the fire extinguishers are maintained regularly and refilled.

She added that right from the support staff to the students, every one is trained to deal with a fire-emergency.

The school conducts mock drills, held by the fire department and the home-guards, twice a year. The school does not have a canteen, which minimises the chances of a fire accident.

Fire drills are held regularly
Army Public School has a standard operation procedure, called SOP, which has been put up mainly in the laboratories and classrooms.

Fire drills are conducted every month by the Army Station headquarters and even teachers have to attend them. In the lower classes, dos and don’ts have been put up on the classrooms’ wall. The students above class VI are given training on how to use fire-extinguishers.

Also, the students are taught how to respond in case of an emergency. The school has ample open space, broad corridors and staircases.

A student of Bishop Cotton Boys’ School, Rudra Gopinath, said that the students of classes VI to IX are expected to choose from some electives, one of which is

Students’ Association for Fire Safety (SAFE). The student-run organisation is meant to prepare them to handle fire emergency.

“A couple of years ago, we had a mock fire and mock explosion at school and we were shown how it feels in such a situation and what we must do,” said Gopinath.

A mock drill by the fire department is regularly conducted, added Gopinath.

“Students are ready in theory and, hopefully, in practice as well,” he said.