GBC Fire Evacuation Guidelines
For the purposes of this document we will be referring to several locations and terms as follows:
A) “Emergency Exit Doors” are those doors used to exit the sanctuary starting near the piano
B) “Main Exit Doors” are those doors that you would normally enter the church (Main Entrance)
C) “Emergency Stairway” is located through the Emergency exit doors leading to the basement
D) “Main Stairway” is located by the Main exit doors (main entrance)
E) “Muster Area” is located at the Southwest corner of the parking lot (next to the school parking
lot) (far left corner when viewed from the road entrance) (school parking lot is paved, the
church parking lot is not)
F) “Doormen” elders, deacons, and ushers who assist in the evacuation by holding the doors or
other assigned tasks
G) “Evacuation Leader” is Jake Zwart, Thomas Thorn, or Rob Herfst
1. Warning Whistles will be located at the following locations. (Please familiarize yourself with the
location of these whistles)
a. One in the Kitchen area under the clock
b. Two in the sanctuary at the front at each side on the evacuation map frame
c. One in the foyer on the evacuation map frame
d. Two in the basement, one near the nursery and the other near the emergency stairwell.
2. If someone discovers or believes there is a fire in the building they are to immediately locate the
closest whistle and blow 3 short blasts in quick succession; this should be repeated as required
until the evacuation begins.
3. Upon hearing the whistle the designated “evacuation leader” will proceed to the front of the
sanctuary, doorman will move to assigned position’s to assist with the evacuation; volunteer
firefighters will locate fire extinguishers and evaluate fire.
a. 3 people to move to basement to notify Sunday school/nursery workers and hold the
doors, one at the emergency stairway and two at the main stairway
b. 4 people to lock open the 3 exit doors of the sanctuary and move to the 4 main exit
doors to keep those open and assist with traffic flow
c. 3 people to move to emergency exit doors to hold doors open and assist with traffic
flow
d. 1 person to collect first aid kit from the kitchen and proceed to muster area exiting
through the emergency exit; this person should make sure the stove is off and coffee
maker is unplugged before exiting. They will also make sure anyone in the kitchen and
storage area leave immediately through the emergency exit
4. Evacuation leader will start basement evacuation
a. Evacuation leader will request parents of children in nursery to proceed to the nursery
in the basement, no more than one parent per child.
b. Nursery will be evacuated using the main stairway and proceed immediately to the
muster area
c. Sunday school will be evacuated using the emergency stairway and proceed
immediately to the muster area
d. The three doormen who proceeded downstairs in the beginning will check all rooms,
bathrooms, etc. before evacuating themselves
5. Evacuation leader will then request those in wheelchairs, with walkers, or anyone needing
assistance to begin evacuation through the main exit; those closest to the person requiring
extra assistance will help them to evacuate
6. Evacuation leader will ask rows to begin evacuation with left (west) side evacuating through the
emergency exit door and the right (east) side evacuating through the main exit door, starting
with rows closest to the doors.
7. Once the sanctuary is clear and the building evacuated the evacuation leader will double check
the pastor’s office and upstairs bathrooms to make sure they are clear before evacuating. Those
manning the doors will close the doors and evacuate along with the evacuation leader to the
muster area
8. Doorman at muster area will call 911 with a cell phone to report the fire
Important Notes
1. The downstairs evacuation takes priority over the upstairs evacuation; doorman will direct
traffic to ensure this happens
2. At no time are evacuees to collect coats and other personal effects unless weather conditions
require this
3. At no time are evacuees to attempt to remove vehicles from the parking lot until told by
evacuation leader
4. All evacuees are to proceed to the muster area
5. Evacuees are to assemble in family units or in units of which vehicles they came in. This means
the children are to remain with their parents, rather than playing with other children, and
likewise parents will remain with their children rather than chatting with other adults. This will
insure that we can readily determine if anyone is missing.
6. The fire department needs to know if there is anyone in the building. The evacuation plan
strives to achieve this.