Peking University, Nov. 17th, 2009: Dense smoke blew out of Room 323’s window in Dorm Building 38 at 3 p.m. on November 15^th. Upon discovering the outbreak of fire, students sounded the fire alarm without hesitation. The dorm supervisor immediately used the fire extinguishers to put out the fire and organized a calm, orderly, single file line evacuation. After receiving the fire report, the PKU fire service center immediately activated the emergency protocol. Staffs from the Security Office, Students Affairs Office, School Hospital and Dormitory Center arrived at the site, controlling the scene, rescuing trapped students, extinguishing the fire and appeasing those in shock. Shuang Yushu Fire Squadron dispatched five fire engines to the site promptly and the fire was put out successfully at 3:30 p.m. All students were evacuated successfully from the building to the pre-determined assembly point, emotionally stable and calm. Students trapped in the building were rescued and the “injured” received first aid treatment and were in stable condition.

These scenes appeared in the school fire drill themed “Life Supreme & Safety First”. The 30-minutes encounter with fire gave the students and faculty on-spot a true fire encounter experience as well as the knowledge of how to perform effective self-help and evacuation in such a situation. The training offered by the professional fire fighters greatly strengthened the students and faculty’s self-help and response capabilities in a fire emergency. Besides the knowledge and skills transferred, the fire drill raised safety awareness and caution when dealing with fire. The exercise was also a test for the school fire emergency plan and the response capability of relevant departments. Meanwhile, the exercise promoted the cooperation of the school and the local fire service departments and enhanced the ability to perform joint fire operations.

This school fire drill was jointly organized by Haidian Fire Brigade and Shuang Yushu Fire Squadron with multiple school departments including the Security Office, the Students Services, the General Affairs Office, the School Hospital, the Dormitory Center involved and more than 200 students and faculty participating. Some 300 students and dormitory supervisors were present to observe and learn. The 30 minute drill was a way for students and teachers to learn what to do in case a real fire happens in the school.

Mr An Guojiang, director of the Security Office and commander of the drill commented on the pros and cons of the practice. He considered the fire drill as a big success for its rich contents and realistic features. He believed it was a true test for different school apartments’ ability to response to fire emergency. The deputy captain of Haidian Fire Brigade, Mr. Li Tinglong made comments from a professional perspective. He thought the exercise was well prepared and compactly conducted, which had achieved the expected effect.

Mr. Zhang Yan, Deputy Secretary of Party Committee of PKU and the chief commander of this fire drill made the concluding remarks. He expressed his gratitude for the participation of the participants and for the presence of the higher leaders and the officers from other schools. It was the lessons from some other schools’ fire accidents that drove us to hold this medium-size, “real-life” and comprehensive fire drill. The goals of the exercise were to extend the fire safety education, to strengthen the fire safety awareness and the self-help and evacuation ability. It was also designed to test the fire emergency plan, the response abilities and efficiency. He was delighted that all the goals had been achieved. Mr. Zhang also stressed that students and faculty should attach importance to the fire safety, observe the relevant regulations and prevent fire accidents from happening. He declared that fire drills with different themes and in different situations would continue to be conducted to provide for the safety and well-being of students and staff.