“The Rescue Bags Don’t Work!” Elementary School Fire Where Children Flew onto the Awning… The Pitfalls of “Useless” Evacuation Drills

Was Evacuating to the “Awning” the Right Choice?

A fire at Takinogawa Third Elementary School in Kita Ward left a total of 11 people—including students and teachers—injured. About two weeks after the incident, it was revealed that the fire was caused by a female teacher who had brought in a personal space heater to dry laundry. Setting aside the utterly unacceptable cause of the fire, this incident highlighted another serious problem.

When teachers attempted to evacuate the children during the fire, the hallway was already filled with smoke, and the fire-rated shutter on the staircase leading to the first floor was closed. They reportedly tried to use “rescue bags”—which allow children to slide down to the ground—but were unable to use them properly.As a result, they were forced to carry the children one by one and evacuate them through a window onto a roof overhang just a few dozen centimeters wide—a dangerous maneuver.

Was there really no other way to evacuate?

“Even if the fire shutter was closed, there is an emergency exit door right next to it, so they should have been able to get out that way. However, if the hallway was so thick with smoke that they couldn’t see anything ahead, I think evacuating to the awning was an unavoidable choice,”

These are the words of Koichi Kato, a former member of the Tokyo Fire Department who now works as a disaster prevention advisor. According to Mr. Kato, the most desirable course of action would have been to first attempt to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher, and if that failed, to use an indoor fire hydrant. Meanwhile, they should have evacuated through the emergency exit next to the fire shutter.

Why wasn’t that possible?

“It’s reported that a teacher entered the music preparation room—the source of the fire—to try to extinguish it with a fire extinguisher. However, opening the door wide at that moment likely allowed fresh air to enter, which may have caused the fire to intensify. Ideally, the door should be opened only slightly, but that might be difficult for someone who isn’t accustomed to doing so.”

When efforts to extinguish the fire are abandoned, closing the music preparation room door would reduce the oxygen inside and slow the spread of the fire; however, leaving the door open allows a constant supply of fresh air, preventing the fire from subsiding.

Useless? School Emergency Kits and Fire Hydrants

In Tokyo, elementary schools are required to conduct evacuation drills at least 11 times a year. This means they are held every month, excluding summer vacation. The specifics of the drills are left up to the schools, and

“Most involve evacuating with a handkerchief over one’s nose and mouth. I’ve heard there are even some schools that practice using fire extinguishers.”

Since lowering fire shutters requires the presence of a specialized contractor, many schools do not lower them, and Mr. Kato suggests that there may even be teachers who do not know where the emergency exits are located or how to open them.

“Indoor fire hydrants are usually installed next to fire extinguishers, but I doubt there’s much training on actually using them.”

During the fire at Takinogawa Third Elementary School, it appears they attempted to use a rescue bag, but

“Using an inclined-descent rescue bag requires two people at the top and two at the bottom—a total of four. Even just setting it up takes at least five to six minutes. I wonder if there’s really enough time to set it up once the flames are already rising…”

There are two types of rescue bags: inclined and vertical. While many middle and high schools install the vertical type—which doesn’t require ground-level anchoring and takes up less space—the inclined type is the standard at elementary schools.

Both indoor fire hydrants and rescue bags undergo regular inspections by contractors.

“I think it’s a good idea to be present during those inspections to learn how to use the equipment. Even if the equipment is in place, it’s useless if you can’t use it. I believe it’s difficult to master the use of fire extinguishers, indoor fire hydrants, rescue bags, and fire shutters without repeated practice.”

It’s also important to know where each piece of equipment is located and what it is. Mr. Kato recommends an on-campus orientation where faculty and staff regularly walk through the school to check the condition of fire shutters and fire doors, as well as the locations of fire extinguishers, indoor fire hydrants, and rescue bags.

The Pitfalls of the Handkerchief Evacuation Drill

Apparently, simply practicing holding a handkerchief over your nose and mouth while evacuating isn’t enough.

“Your posture at that moment is also important. Fire smoke, heated by the flames, drifts down from the ceiling. Even when the hallway is filled with smoke, if you lower your gaze to just above the floor and peer down the hallway, you may find that fresh air remains near the floor, at a height of 60 to 70 cm.”  

When practicing, I recommend placing tape at a height of 60–70 cm, assuming a low posture so your head doesn’t rise above the tape, and moving forward while keeping your hands on the wall.”

Smoke from a fire is hot! I think it’s important to experience this during evacuation drills, but

“It’s difficult to generate smoke at schools. There are disaster prevention centers in Honjo, Ikebukuro, and Tachikawa within Tokyo where you can experience smoke simulations. Additionally, some cities and wards, such as the Shinagawa Disaster Prevention Experience Center and the Tokyo Metropolitan Kita Ward Disaster Prevention Center, have their own disaster prevention training facilities, so I recommend using them.”

The areas typically considered at risk for fires in schools are places where open flames are used, such as the cafeteria, science lab, and home economics room. However, at Takinogawa Third Elementary School, the fire broke out in the music preparation room—a place where no open flames were present.

“The lesson we’ve learned from this fire is that fires can occur even in places where there is no open flame. Furthermore, while evacuation drills are conducted on the assumption that teachers are present, it’s possible for a fire to break out during recess or other times when teachers are absent. We need to train students on how to respond when they are on their own, tailored to each specific situation.”

Routine drills are of no use in the event of an actual fire. Perhaps the fire at Takinogawa Third Elementary School taught us just that.

▼ Koichi Kato: Disaster Prevention Advisor; Fire and Disaster Prevention Researcher; Disaster Essayist. While serving at the Tokyo Fire Department, he held leadership positions in various departments, including Deputy Chief of a fire station, Chief of the Fire Prevention Division, and Chief of the Prevention Division.He has extensive experience in fire prevention administration and disaster prevention, having served not only as a firefighter and fire captain but also as an investigator of fire incidents. While on the job, he conducted research on disaster psychology and disaster stress at the University of Tsukuba Graduate School. In 1996, he became the first Japanese firefighter to be invited to and participate in a workshop on disaster stress held in the United States.His publications include *Topics in Fire Service Psychology* and *Disaster Essays: A Firefighter’s Chronicle* (both published by Kindai Fire Service Publishing).