Fire Alarm Triggers Mid-Session

Fire alarm sounds during a packed afternoon plenary. Sprinklers haven't activated. No smoke visible. Venue staff aren't responding to the radio.

Setting: Convention center, 1,500 attendees, multi-room program in progress. Category: Safety & First Response. Pressure level: Critical.

This page is the individual, citable address for this one situation: https://gatheringarchitecture.com/crisis-sim/scenario/fire-alarm

The situation

Alarm wails. The MC freezes. Half the audience starts gathering bags; the other half waits for instruction. You have 10 seconds before the room moves on its own.

First moves and what each one costs

• Take the mic, calmly direct the room to the nearest two exits, name the assembly point, send your team to clear back rooms — Orderly evacuation in under 4 minutes. Wardens confirm all rooms clear.
• Tell the audience to stay seated while you confirm whether it's a drill — 30 seconds in, smoke is visible from a side corridor. Now the evacuation is panicked.

Preparation notes for this situation

• Walk every assembly point with venue ops before doors open
• Designate a 'fire warden' per room and brief them
• Never assume an alarm is a drill — always evacuate

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