FIRE SAFETY IN DAYCARE CENTERS

FIRE DEPARTMENT
CITY & COUNTY OF DENVER
FIRE PREVENTION AND INVESTIGATION DIVISION
Children are our future and Denvers Fire Department shares your concerns about child safety.
This flier contains information to assist parents, families, and caregivers in evaluating their
daycare options. Your decisions about the right place for your child will take many factors into
account. Most importantly, it will take the childrens physical, emotional, personal development,
and wellbeing into consideration. The Fire Department of the City and County of Denver wants
to make it easy for you to add safety preparedness to your list when you make your evaluations
about childcare.
IS THE CENTER LICENSED?
All family daycare and group family daycare centers within the City and County of Denver must
be approved and licensed by the State of Colorado. The Fire Department must determine that the
daycare center complies with minimum code requirements before the license is approved. This
license must be displayed in a prominent place in the daycare center. ASK TO SEE THE
LICENSE.
A valid State of Colorado license contains the following:
1.

The location in the home or building that may be used for daycare

2.

The number and ages of the children approved for daycare

3.

The effective and expiration dates of the license

We encourage you to ask potential providers what they would do in the event of an emergency.
An approved emergency action plan must be prominently displayed. The plan will show the two
required means of egress that the children will have to use during an emergency. MAKE TIME
TO REVIEW THE PLAN.
FIRE SAFETY
Please take a moment to review the following fire safety requirements before placing your child
in a family daycare home or a group family daycare center:
1.

Fire Drills must be conducted monthly, and a record of each fire drill must be maintained.
Ask the provider to see the records of such drills.

2.

Operating Smoke Detectors must be present on every floor of the facility designated for
use as a family daycare home or group family daycare center. Inquire about them and
look to see that they are in good working order.

3.

Multipurpose Fire Extinguishers must be maintained and in good working order. Check
to see if one is in place in the kitchen. A family home used for daycare also requires an
approved fire extinguisher in place outside the furnace room.

4.

Emergency Evacuation Plan must be easily accessible and posted in a conspicuous

location. Primary emphasis must be place on the immediate evacuation of children. The
approved emergency plan must describe the following:
a)

How children and adults will be made aware of an emergency

b)

Primary and secondary evacuation routes

c)

Methods of evacuation, including where children and adults will meet after
evacuating the home, and how attendance will be taken and

d)

Notification of authorities and the childrens parents following an evacuation

Spend some time reviewing the Emergency Evacuation Plan before there is a real
emergency. Evaluate all of the primary and secondary means of egress noted in the
Emergency Evacuation Plan. Take a walking tour of the Emergency Evacuation Plan.
Examine the required means of egress to determine that each means leads to a safe area
outside the residence. Children develop at different stages. Some children may have
special needs and some may be challenged in various ways. What may work for one
child may not work for another. Ask yourself, Would my child be able to successfully
carry out this evacuation plan in a real emergency?
5.

Children cannot be left without competent supervision at any time. Children must be
located on the same floor of the facility with a caretaker at all times. A caretaker must
have direct visual contact with the children at all times.

6.

Children must not be located above the second floor of a single-family home or dwelling.
Family childcare home and group family daycare facility centers may be located on any
floor in a facility is protected throughout by a monitored automatic fire sprinkler system.
Note: Any level in a family childcare home or group family daycare center must provide
two (2) approved means of egress remote from one another.

DEFINITIONS
Family Childcare Home is a program providing childcare on a regular basis in a family residence
for two to six children (ages six weeks to six years) for less than 24 hours per day. Children in
care are from different family households and are not related to the head of household.
Group Daycare Home is a program providing childcare on a regular basis in a family residence
for seven to 12 children (ages six weeks to six years) for less than 24 hours per day. Children in

care are from different households and are not related to the head of household.
Small Daycare Center is a program providing childcare on a regular basis in a facility for 20
occupants (ages six weeks to 12 years) for less than 24 hours per day. The maximum number of
children that may be cared for will be specified on the license.

YOUR DAYCARE CENTER FIRE SAFETY CHECKLIST

Prevention and planning are key to protecting your children and family. Use this checklist as a
guide to identify possible fire safety problems in your childs daycare center. If you check NO to
any question, the potential hazard should be corrected to reduce your childs risk and increase the
daycare facilitys preparedness for fire.
Yes

No

1.

Is the facility licensed by the State of Colorado Department of Human

Services Division of Child Care? Did you inspect the license?

2.

Is there an emergency evacuation plan posted in a conspicuous place in the

home or center? Did you review it? Are there two required means of
egress? Is the plan realistic?

3.

Are there working smoke alarms on each level of the home or center and
outside any areas used for napping? Is there a working carbon monoxide
(CO) alarm?

4.

Are fire drills conducted monthly? Are records kept of the drills?

5.

Are all the windows easily opened from the inside?

6.

Have you inspected the general housekeeping of the facility? Is the home
free of clutter and combustible materials that might either contribute to or
create a fire hazard?

7.

Space heaters of any kind may never be used in rooms or areas accessible
to children. Did you check to see if space heaters were presently being
used?

8.

Are emergency telephone numbers posted near the telephone?

9.

Are protective caps or covers installed on all electrical outlets accessible to

children?

10.

Are all matches and lighters, etc., kept in a place inaccessible to children?

11.

Have the knobs on the stove been made childproof to prevent a child
from accidentally turning on the stove?

12.

Are all electrical cords in good condition?

FIRE EVACUATION PLAN

NAME OF SMALL HOME DAYCARE
Address
Phone
Contact Name
Date of Plan or Revision
In case of fire or disaster, the staff on duty will sound the fire alarm. All persons will leave the
house and go to the designated assembly area. Staff on duty will call the Denver Fire
Department at 911. All persons will wait at the designated assembly area for the fire department.
Account for all persons. When the fire department arrives, staff will report missing persons to
the fire department and answer any questions pertaining to the fire.
Never re-enter or allow anyone else to re-enter the house.
Instructions on what to do in case of fire are as follows:
1.

Rescue persons in immediate danger by removing them from the area of danger.

2.

Sound the fire alarm.

3.

Contain the fire by closing doors to the fire area.

4.

Evacuate all persons and staff to the designated assembly area.

5.

Call 911 from a safe location.

6.

Only use a fire extinguisher if you have had training, it is safe to do so, it is a small fire,
and all persons have been evacuated.

7.

Meet the fire department and explain the situation to them.

8.

DO NOT RE-ENTER THE HOUSE UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS ITS
SAFE TO DO SO.

9.

NEVER RESET OR SILENCE THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM WITHOUT

PERMISSION FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT (EXCEPT FOR FIRE
DRILLS).

10.

Record details of fire drills so they can be documented. Denver Fire Department Fire
Prevention personnel will review logs during inspections.

11.

All staff will be trained on procedures of evacuation plan.

12.

Fire drills will be conducted monthly.

FLOOR DIAGRAM
(Show exits)

GROUP FAMILY DAYCARE CENTER

SAMPLE PLAN
Emergency Preparedness Plan
Evacuation Process
When the decision is made to evacuate the daycare facility, the Director will announce, in the
most expeditious way possible, that all persons are to evacuate to their assigned assembly area
and await further instructions. The building is to be evacuated completely. The Director will
notify appropriate personnel and communicate what type of emergency exists.
In the event of an actual fire, the Director will be responsible to notify the Denver Fire
Department at 911 of the emergency from a cell phone outside the building once the evacuation
is complete.
Daycare center staff will evacuate their children as follows:
Infants
The Infant Nursery Supervisor shall put infants in an evacuation crib and move to the designated
evacuation assembly area. Upon arriving at the designated evacuation assembly area, all infants
must be physically accounted for against the sign-in log and the results reported to the Director
immediately.
The Infant Nursery Supervisor is responsible for brining all attendance sheets, child rosters, and
information sheets. For inclement weather, if possible, take appropriate supplies to protect the
infants.
Toddlers and Preschoolers
The Toddler Group Leader and Preschool Group Leader shall be responsible for gathering their
respective classes in a group and supervising an orderly evacuation to the designated assembly
area. Upon arriving at the designated evacuation assembly area, all children must be physically
accounted for against the sign-in log and the results reported to the Director immediately.
The Group Leader is/are responsible for bringing all attendance sheets, child rosters, and
information sheets. For inclement weather, if possible, take appropriate supplies to protect the
children.
Center Aides and other available personnel will assist the staff with the evacuation and then
proceed to perform their assigned duties.
*Note: Under no circumstances are staff to stop for any of their own or the childrens personal
belongings, including jackets, shoes, purses, toys, etc.

Procedures for Conducting a Fire Drill

1.

Inform the staff in advance. The Center Director informs the staff that there will be a fire
drill later in the day/week.

2.

Familiarize the children with the fire drill. Teachers talk to the children in their
classroom about the bell/alarm, rules, and procedures for vacating the building.

3.

Evacuate the building. The Director will sound the alarm and the Center will be
evacuated.
a) Evacuating Infants and Toddlers: The designated member of the management team
goes to the infant/toddler area.
b) Children in the Infant Nursery are placed in an evacuation crib and the crib is
wheeled outside by the Infant Nursery Supervisor to the designated area.
c) Toddlers (walkers) proceed immediately with their Group Leader to the outside
designated area.
d) Group Leaders will count their children and take attendance sheets, emergency
information, and cell phones with them.
e) The Center Director or designee checks bathrooms, closets, and hiding places for
lost children and for possible sources of smoke or fire during a real alarm.
f) The Center Director retrieves the official daily sign-in sheets and cell phone.

4.

Time the drill. The Center Director times how long it took to vacate the building.

5.

Verify accurate recount of all persons. The Center Director or designee checks with each
group to verify an accurate recount of all persons.

6.

Return to the building. The Center Director or designee gives approval to reenter the
building. The Center Director or designee helps with infants and toddlers.

7.

Document the completed fire drill. The Center Director completes written documentation
that contains the specifics of the drill: date, time, and location of fire, and the length of
time required to vacate the building. Denver Fire Department Fire Prevention personnel
will review the fire drill log during inspections.

A fire drill will be practiced at least once a month, at different times of the day. All children
should have the experience of a practice fire drill to be better prepared for a real emergency.
Additional assignments of staff:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Evacuation SupervisorDirector
First AidPreschool Aide
CommunicationsInfant Nursery Supervisor
Play space operationsPreschool Group Leader
Pick-up AssignmentsToddler Group Leader

Organization and Responsibility

1.

Evacuation SupervisorDirector
AlternatePreschool Teacher
a)
b)
c)
d)

Make sure all children are accounted for.

Determine the safest location for continued operations until children can be
picked up and the safest path for all staff and children to get there.
Activate the parent/guardian pick-up point assignment. This should be the best
location away from the play space area and first aid station.
Activate the communications assignment and provide specific phrases for the
caller and information about the parent/guardian pick-up pointwhen possible,
be the one to make contact with those families whose children are injured as a
result of the event.

Key Materials: Cell phone, official daily sign-in sheets

2.

First Aid AssignmentPreschool Aide

Administer first aid as necessary
Key Materialscomplete first aid kit, flashlights, batteries, and cell phone, all contained
in a bright labeled bag.

3.

Communication AssignmentEach Group Leader will contact their own class parents.
Communications Coordinator, Infant Nursery Supervisor to give out wording and
information to be relayed.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

4.

Check with Evaluation Supervisor about exact information to give to families

when calling (emphasis should be placed on the childs condition and the pick-up
location).
Discuss with the Evaluation Supervisor the exact wording to offer families whose
children have been injured in some way by the event.
Relay information to group leaders of each class.
Confirm all parents/emergency back-up contacts have actually been spoken to.
Report back to Evacuation Supervisor with updates, needs, and problems during
his/her rounds.

Play Space AssignmentDetermine where to set up different groups of children.

a)
b)
c)

If possible, define areas.

Determine the nearest and safest bathroom and arrange for supervision.
Report back to the Evacuation Supervisor with update, needs, and problems
during his/her rounds.

Key MaterialsPrepared Emergency Evacuation Kit, including some play materials.

5.

Pick-up AssignmentEstablish an area away from the primary play area and first aid
areas to control access.
a)
b)
c)

Collect all the sign-in sheets to monitor family pick-ups.

Select a staff member to collect children and bring them to the pick-up point.
Report back to the Evacuation Supervisor with updates, needs, and problems
during his/her rounds.

Key MaterialsSign-in sheets, markers/pens and paper; highly visible cap.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Name/Agency

Telephone Number

Center Director..............................................................................................
Fire

........................................................................................................... 911

Police ...........................................................................................................911
Ambulance....................................................................................................911
Poison Control...............................................................................................
Xcel Energy (gas, electric)............................................................................
State Division of Child Care..........................................................................

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