Evacuation Plan and Emergency Procedures
Protecting your building users and Lancashire’s firefighters – limiting the spread
When a building is on fire, following the evacuation plan is essential to keep people safe. However, unnecessary or poorly planned evacuations can increase the risk of Coronavirus transmission due to the movement of large numbers of people in close proximity.
The type of evacuation plan will depend on the use of your premises and your fire risk assessment. Evacuation plans should be kept under review to ensure the risk of Coronavirus transmission has been reduced as far as reasonably practicable.
You may wish to consider the use of a ‘dispersal system’. This is the process of organising your staff / residents into small groups, each briefed to assemble in a different pre-planned location. For example one group may assemble in a car park, and another in a nearby park. This helps people to remain socially distanced. If you adopt this method a procedure will be needed to ensure everyone is accounted for. Ideally fire marshals should be responsible for this, with back-up marshals to provide cover if needed. If your premises is residential and contains people who are self-isolating due to a positive C19 test (or contact with someone who has) it is a good idea to pre-plan and allocate separate assembly points for these groups.
In all cases you should plan to leave space for attending fire appliances and have staff / marshals tasked ready to brief the Fire Incident Commander on arrival. This will ensure effective briefing, will minimise potential for spread, and will alert the Fire Incident Commander to any potential welfare needs which might emerge with a prolonged evacuation. Returning in to the premises after a fire / alarm should be undertaken in a staged approach to minimise potential for spread.
If you wish to discuss the above, or are a premises that receive regular attendance by LFRS and you have amended your Evacuation plan and fire appliance rendezvous points, please contact protectionsupport@lancsfirerescue.org.uk
You will be contacted by a Business Safety Advisor who will discuss your plans and, if necessary, update information held on our fire appliances.