Guide Dog Fire Drill – Our Fire Safety Plan In Action

At Guiding Eyes for the Blind, the safety of our staff and our guide dogs is paramount. In our commitment to maintaining a secure environment, we have developed a comprehensive fire safety plan for each of our campuses. This plan is designed to ensure a coordinated and swift response in the event of a fire, prioritizing personal safety while also caring for our dogs.

Below, we outline the steps and procedures that our team follows specifically for the kennel building housing our adult guide dogs in training at our Training School & Headquarters in Yorktown Heights, NY. This procedure is an outline for a situation in which rescuing our dogs is deemed manageable with no personal injury.

» Key Safety Precautions

Personal safety is our top priority. Staff are advised against putting themselves in harm’s way for the dogs’ rescue if it is unsafe to do so. Do not place yourself in a dangerous position if dogs cannot be let out or if there are not enough staff members to assist. Once everyone is assembled, we operate under a buddy system to enhance the safety and effectiveness of our response.

» Emergency Assembly Point

All staff members from the kennel building, including trainers, veterinary staff, and kennel staff, are instructed to meet as quickly as possible at the designated assembly point located at the ramp outside the rear of the west kennel. This initial gathering is critical to count all team members and to begin executing the safety protocol.

» Roles and Responsibilities

A coordinator, typically the most senior staff member present, will be chosen to direct the team. This person’s responsibilities include:

• Deploying staff to their respective tasks.
• Checking the fire’s origin via the alarm panel to adjust our strategy accordingly.
• Ensuring that a key to the kennel doors is retrieved for access.

» Evacuation Procedure

Our evacuation strategy depends on the number of staff available and the fire’s location:

• East Kennel: Staff enter through the rear door and direct all dogs down the middle aisle to the back community run (CR3). A designated person will monitor which staff members enter the building.
• West Kennel: Similarly, this area will be cleared by accessing the rear doors and guiding dogs to back community run (CR4). This can occur simultaneously with the East kennel clearance if enough staff are available. At least three people are needed to empty each kennel—two to enter and one to monitor the door.

Note: Doors to both kennels should be staffed and held open to facilitate easy exiting for dogs and to increase air ventilation for those inside the kennel.

» Additional Areas and Considerations

• Vet Hospital and ICU: Cleared by Vet Techs, kennel tech on vet duty, and any interns or doctors on grounds. Dogs from these areas are moved to the ISO building for safety. Vet staff should bring scanners from the vet hospital to assist in dog identification.
• Cats: Should you see the cats as you exit the building, please grab them and place them in a crate in a van outside.

» Transportation and Holding Areas

All additional staff are tasked with lining up training vans, maintenance vans, and personal vehicles to transport and hold dogs. These vehicles are parked on Colonial Street to avoid blocking access for emergency services. If needed, dogs can also be taken to Alumni Hall under supervision.

» Post-Evacuation

Once all dogs are safely evacuated and the situation is assessed, they may either stay with administrative staff in their offices or return to the kennel if it’s safe. Plans for longer-term accommodations are discussed as necessary.

» Emergency Supplies

A Kennel Building Fire Emergency Box is kept in the Training Manager’s office, equipped with:

• Approximately 100 nylon leashes
• A medical label kit for creating temporary collars
• Poop bags to maintain cleanliness in staging areas
• Markers for labeling collars
• Scanners for identifying dogs

View the full plan here.

Watch highlights of our most recent fire drill in May.