Brixham Theatre

FIRE
EVACUATION
PROCEDURE

FIRE EVACUATION PROCEDURE BRIXHAM THEATRE

 NON-SHOW Evacuation Procedure
(Inc rehearsals and set ups)

Multi-Occupancy Fire Procedure

To prevent any unnecessary disruption, please ensure that known problems which result in false
alarms are corrected so that there is a high degree of confidence in the fire alarm system.
Notify the Town Council of any such known problems as soon as the problem is identified.

ON DISCOVERING A FIRE
1. Immediately raise the alarm by shouting “FIRE!” and by activating the nearest manual
call point.

ON HEARING THE FIRE ALARM (“FIRE! FIRE! FIRE”! or ALARM SOUNDING)

2. Exit the building by the nearest available escape route and assemble in Middle Street or
New Road.

3. DO NOT stop to collect personal belongings.

4. DO NOT re-enter the building until given the all clear by the fire service.

SENIOR MEMBER OF STAFF FROM ONE OCCUPYING ORGANISATION

The Senior Member of Staff On Hearing the Alarm Sounding Should take on the role of Fire
Marshal and:
5. Immediately the fire alarm sounds, put into action the normal evacuation routine.

6. Unless it is obvious that there is a fire, safely investigate the source of the alarm to
establish if it is a fire or a false alarm.

7. Do not call the fire service until it is confirmed the call is a fire.

8. Confirm by investigation that a fire exists or is suspected to exist; if it does then ensure
the fire service has been called by dialing 999 or 112. (During such time of this
investigation the evacuation of the building should be initiated and continued
throughout).

9. If you are certain that there is no fire and no suspicion of fire then the building can be re
occupied and there is no need to call the fire service.

10. If a fire is discovered the Fire Marshal should locate them-self in the front of the
building, New Road, so as to meet and liaise with the fire and rescue service upon their
arrival.

11. Await information from the responsible persons from each occupying organization on
the completeness of their evacuation.

12. On arrival of the fire and rescue service, give all available information to the senior fire
officer.

Senior Member of Staff from All Other Occupying Organizations:

13. If safe to do so, conduct a sweep of the building (for the area you occupy) to confirm all
persons are evacuated.

14. Inform the Fire Marshal of the thoroughness of your sweep – in particular reporting any
areas that could not be confirmed.
FIRE EVACUATION PROCEDURE BRIXHAM THEATRE
 15. Ensure persons with PEEP’s are enabled to put their personal evacuation plan into
operation.

16. Guide evacuated personnel out of the property to the assembly points and prevent them
re-entering the building until given notice by the fire service or senior member of staff.

Fighting the Fire

17. In the event of fire being discovered, the above fire procedure should always take
priority. After raising the alarm and calling the fire and rescue service, attempts may be
made to fight the fire with equipment provided, if:

 Trained staff are available for the purpose;

 It is deemed safe to do so;
 Such action is likely to contain or extinguish the fire;
 It is likely to have a direct and immediate effect in protecting life.

Other considerations:
18. Crowd control – i.e. it is important that people are kept at the assembly point so that they
do not interfere with fire fighting operations.

19. Cars should be prevented from stopping in front of the building which could cause
delays to the fire fighting operations.

20. Parents of unaccompanied children will be anxious and want to be repatriated with them
at the earliest opportunity.

SHOW Evacuation Procedure

(Where an audience is present)

One hour prior to performance until thirty minutes after the performance has finished.

ON HEARING THE FIRE ALARM

The DUTY MANAGER will alert staff that an evacuation might be necessary. (Most staff
should be aware of the alarm, as the sounders located around the building will be activated
except the auditorium).

The DUTY MANAGER will proceed to the foyer to confirm the location of the incident by
checking the panel located in the foyer and will immediately relay this information to the DUTY
STAGE MANAGER. The duty manager will then proceed to the incident to assess the situation
(as safely as possible) and return to the theatre to report to the DUTY STAGE MANAGER;
unless the fire is situated backstage then the stage manager will investigate and report to the duty
manager. No more than five minutes should be allowed to elapse between first hearing the fire
alarm and the DUTY MANAGER returning to the theatre. If the DUTY Manager has not
returned in this time evacuation procedure must be commenced.

The FIRE MARSHAL will collect the SIGNING IN BOOK and proceed to the auditorium to
supervise the evacuation should it be necessary. The Duty manager will inform the Fire
Marshall whether or not to proceed with the evacuation.

IF EVACUATION IS NECESSARY THE EVACUATION MESSAGE WILL PLAY/ BE

ANNOUNCED .
FIRE EVACUATION PROCEDURE BRIXHAM THEATRE
On hearing the message all staff / stewards / volunteers will proceed to direct the public out of
the building via the fire escape routes as per the non-show evacuation procedure. DO NOT use
the lift.

1. Exit the building by the nearest available escape route and assemble in Middle St or New Rd.

2. DO NOT stop to collect personal belongings.

3. DO NOT re-enter the building until given the all clear by the fire service. The Evac Chair
must only be used to assist one person, you MUST NOT re-enter the building for other
persons. All other less abled persons should be directed to the refuge area.

4. Ensure the fire service has been called by dialing 999 or 112.

5. When the Theatre and Function Room is clear the FIRE MARSHAL will locate them-self in
the front of the building, New Road, so as to meet and liaise with the fire and rescue service
upon their arrival.

6. Await information from the responsible persons from each occupying organisation on the
completeness of their evacuation.

7. On arrival of the fire and rescue service, give all available information to the senior fire
officer including the role and informing them if all staff / stewards / volunteers and public are
accounted for.

Senior Member of Staff from All Other Occupying Organizations:

8. If safe to do so, conduct a sweep of the building (for the area you occupy) to confirm all
persons are evacuated.

9. Inform the Fire Marshal of the thoroughness of your sweep – in particular reporting any
areas that could not be confirmed.

10. Ensure persons with PEEP’s are enabled to put their personal evacuation plan into
operation.

11. Guide evacuated personnel out of the property to the assembly points and prevent them
re-entering the building until given notice by the fire service or senior member of staff.

Fighting the Fire

12. In the event of fire being discovered, the above fire procedure should always take
priority. After raising the alarm and calling the fire and rescue service, attempts may be
made to fight the fire with equipment provided, if:

 Trained staff are available for the purpose;

 It is deemed safe to do so;
 Such action is likely to contain or extinguish the fire;
 It is likely to have a direct and immediate effect in protecting life.

Other considerations:
13. Crowd control – i.e. it is important that people are kept at the assembly point so that they
do not interfere with fire fighting operations.

FIRE EVACUATION PROCEDURE BRIXHAM THEATRE

 14. Cars should be prevented from stopping in front of the building which could cause
delays to the fire fighting operations.

15. Parents of unaccompanied children will be anxious and want to be repatriated with them
at the earliest opportunity.

Anyone discovering a fire / suspect package or taking a call from someone claiming that a bomb
is on the premises must report the fact immediately to a member management. IN the case of a
fire activate the nearest call point by breaking the glass.

When relaying the message the word FIRE must NOT be used. The code for fire is CODE ONE
i.e. CODE ONE in the foyer. In the case of a bomb scare, the phrase is 'CODE TWO’

General Good Practice to avoid potential problems

1) All Passageways, doors and exits MUST be kept clear

2) Keep marked fire doors closed
3) Be aware of where fire-fighting equipment is kept and what it is used for
4) Keep areas clean and tidy and remove any rubbish regularly

Inform an Officer of Brixham Town Council if you see any potential problems.

FIRE EVACUATION PROCEDURE BRIXHAM THEATRE

FIRE EVACUATION PROCEDURE BRIXHAM THEATRE