On September 4, 2020, the Office of the Fire Marshal issued Fire Marshal Directive 2020-001, “Total evacuation fire drills in schools during COVID‑19 pandemic” that provided flexibility for the 2020-21 school year.

For the 2021-2022 school year, it is essential to plan for procedures to conduct fire drills aligned with public health advice. We emphasize a continued flexible and balanced approach when conducting fire drills in schools, including private schools.