Responding to Fire Alarms and Evacuations

This article is for Security Guards.

Fire alarms and evacuations are among the highest-stakes situations you'll face on the job. A fast, calm, and organized response can save lives. This guide outlines the standard response procedure for security guards and explains how to document the event in Attlock.

Important: This guide provides general best practices. Your site's specific fire and evacuation procedures are defined in your Post Orders. Always follow your site-specific instructions — they take precedence over general guidance.

Immediate Response: The First 60 Seconds

When a fire alarm activates:

1. Do not assume it's a false alarm. Treat every activation as real until confirmed otherwise.
2. Alert your supervisor immediately — call or message them via Attlock.
3. Begin evacuation procedures for your assigned zone or the entire site, per your Post Orders.
4. Call emergency services (911 or your local equivalent) if you have any reason to believe there is an actual fire or if your Post Orders require it.
5. Do not use elevators — direct all occupants to stairwells.

Evacuation Duties

Your specific role during an evacuation depends on your assignment, but common guard duties include:

Directing Occupants

• Position yourself at key decision points (stairwell doors, corridor junctions) to direct people toward exits.
• Use a calm, clear, authoritative voice: "Please proceed to the nearest stairwell and exit the building."
• Keep people moving — don't allow crowds to form at bottlenecks.
• Assist anyone with mobility limitations to a designated Area of Rescue Assistance and notify emergency services of their location.

Sweeping Your Zone

If your Post Orders assign you a sweep responsibility:

1. Move through your assigned area systematically — check offices, restrooms, break rooms, and storage areas.
2. Announce yourself loudly: "Security — fire alarm, please evacuate!"
3. Do not enter areas with visible smoke or fire. Your safety comes first.
4. Report your sweep status to your supervisor when complete.

Managing the Assembly Point

• Direct evacuees to the designated assembly point (marked on your site map in Post Orders).
• Keep the assembly area clear of vehicle traffic.
• Do not allow anyone to re-enter the building until the all-clear is given by the fire department.

Accounting for Occupants

If your site uses an occupant accountability system:

1. Work with floor wardens or building management to account for all personnel.
2. Report any missing persons to the fire department incident commander immediately.
3. Note names and last known locations of anyone unaccounted for.

Liaising with Emergency Services

When fire department or emergency services arrive:

1. Meet them at the main entrance if possible — they need to know the layout.
2. Provide the following information:
   • Location of the alarm activation (which zone or floor).
   • Whether you observed smoke, fire, or unusual odors.
   • Number of occupants and any unaccounted persons.
   • Location of the fire panel and utility shutoffs.
3. Follow all instructions from the incident commander.
4. Do not re-enter the building until the fire department gives the all-clear.

After the Incident: Documentation in Attlock

Once the situation is resolved and occupants are safe, document the event:

1. Tap More > Incident Reports > New Report.
2. Select Fire Alarm / Evacuation as the incident type.
3. Fill in:
   • Time of alarm activation
   • Cause (if known — false alarm, actual fire, equipment fault, etc.)
   • Actions taken — your response steps, zones swept, emergency services contacted
   • Evacuation outcome — all occupants accounted for, any injuries, any unaccounted persons
   • Emergency services response — which agencies attended, arrival time, all-clear time
4. Attach any relevant photos (fire damage, alarm panel, assembly point).
5. Submit the report.
6. Also create a Pass-Down Log entry so the next shift is aware of the event.

False Alarms

If the alarm is confirmed as a false activation by the fire department or building management:

1. Assist with the controlled re-entry of occupants.
2. Still file an Incident Report — false alarms must be documented.
3. Note the suspected cause if known (e.g., steam from a kitchen, a faulty detector, a test that wasn't communicated).
4. Report recurring false alarms to your supervisor — they may indicate a maintenance issue.

Tips

• Know your Post Orders — your site's evacuation plan, assembly points, and your specific role are all defined there.
• Walk the evacuation routes at the start of a new assignment — don't learn them during an emergency.
• Know where the fire panel is — emergency services will ask.
• Stay calm — your composure directly affects how calmly occupants respond.
• Never prop fire doors open — they exist to contain fire and smoke.
• Document everything — even a false alarm needs a report.

Related Articles

• Using the Emergency SOS Button
• Reading Post Orders and Policies
• Submitting an Incident Report
• Communicating with Your Supervisor
• Using the Pass-Down Log