In every Wake County school, fire alarms must be tested monthly. At Leesville Road High School, we don’t typically have to worry about meeting that quota.

It is only the fifth month of school, and we have had 33 fire alarms go off so far. Only one of those has been scheduled. 

A normal fire drill typically takes about five minutes. The alarm goes off, everyone gets out, everyone goes back in, and class resumes as normal. 

Someone vaping in the bathroom and setting off a fire alarm takes much longer. The alarm goes off, everyone gets out, the fire department comes, the fire department has to clear the building, everyone goes back in, and class resumes.

Not only is more class time wasted, but the admin has to take the time to figure out who set off the alarm and handle that student’s punishment. 

When asked how unscheduled fire alarms affect class time, Mrs. Frame, staff, said, “They’re disruptive. They affect the flow. Students get distracted, and it’s hard for them to refocus.”

Mr. Hewitt, staff, agrees with Mrs. Frame, but notes that the situation is worse during the third and fourth periods. “In the later periods of the day, third and fourth, getting them to lock back in after is much harder,” said Mr. Hewitt.

Hewitt also complained about wasted instruction time because most of the time, there is not an actual fire emergency. 

These fire alarms aren’t only disruptive for Leesville, but they take resources away from the fire department that could be used for real emergencies.