School Districts are reminded of Ark. Code Ann. Sec. 6-10-110, Fire Marshall Program, mandating the establishment of a Fire Marshall Program within each local school district. Inherent within this program is the requirement for unannounced monthly fire evacuation drills which are to be recorded and reported to this Division on a tri- annual basis and to the Arkansas Department of Education in conjunction with SIS reporting procedures.
Attached to this memo is the Tri-Annual Fire Drill Report that is currently being used. Districts are asked to copy this form and use it to report the results of each month’s fire drill. The forms should be submitted to the Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation three times each year as follows:
A) Report # 1, September 20 -consisting of results from the first fire drill
B) Report # 2, February 20- consisting of results from October, November, December, January and February fire drills
C) Report # 3, June 20- consisting of results from March, April and May fire drills
The intended purpose of the early reporting date of September 20 is to ensure that each school conducts a fire drill within the first few weeks of school to benefit all students and teachers but especially those students and faculty members who are new to the school or building.
Ark. Code Ann. Sec. 6-21-106 Fire hazards inspection prior to closing for breaks, outlines the procedures to be followed by school districts with regard to bi-annual inspections of all public school facilities by local fire officials. The code outlines the dates and procedures to be followed with regard to these inspections.