Fire drill at school: a social story

Fire drills are practice. The alarm is loud, and the steps are always the same. No scary details, just what to do.

Read the story

By the Cala Luna team · Reviewed 24 October 2026 · The research behind it

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The story

Read it aloud together, one card at a time. Point to the pictures and let your child read the last card.

Sometimes my school has a fire drill. A fire drill is practice, so we know what to do.
The alarm is very loud. I can cover my ears or wear my ear defenders.
When I hear it, I stop what I am doing and leave my things.
I line up with my class and listen to my teacher.
We walk calmly outside to our meeting place.
We wait while my teacher counts everyone. Waiting can feel long.
I might feel surprised or worried. Grown-ups are there to help me.
When the drill is over, we walk back inside and carry on with our day.
I practised the fire drill. Now I know what to do.

My calm plan

Pick one or two before the day, and practise them at home.

🎧 Ear defenders
🙉 Cover my ears
🚶 Follow my teacher
🫁 Slow breaths

Free printable social story from calalunakids.com/social-stories/fire-drill/

Personalised social cartoon

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Teo, a small lynx in a big yellow sun hat

How to use this story (for grown-ups)

Ask the school whether they can tell you about planned drills, and read the story the day before. Walk the real route and meeting point together if you can.
Play a recording of an alarm at home, very quietly at first, and turn it up a little over several days.
Agree a plan with the school: ear defenders kept by the door, a trusted adult, or leaving a moment early for the first drill.
Keep it about practice and what to do. Leave out smoke, fire and danger details.

Why these steps: what 30 years of research says about social stories.

Words that help

Try saying: "It is practice. The alarm is loud, and we walk outside."Instead of: "It's nothing, stop worrying."
Try saying: "Your teacher will show you where to go."Instead of: Talking about real fires

Questions parents ask

Will the school tell me before a fire drill?

Some schools can give a heads-up for children who find drills very hard, so it is worth asking. Surprise drills still happen, so practise the steps either way.

My child is scared of all alarms now. What helps?

Gradual practice with recorded alarm sounds at a low volume, ear defenders and a clear "what we do" plan. If the fear is affecting daily life, talk to the school or your doctor. See also our loud places story.

We read the best free examples and guidance we could find, then wrote a shorter, simpler version in our own words: National Association of School Psychologists (via Delaware School Safety Center): school safety drills for students with autism (PDF); Frederick County / ASERT: fire safety social story (PDF). Not medical advice; if you are worried about your child, talk to their school or doctor.

Fire drill at school: a social story

The story

My calm plan

Want this story with your child as the hero?

How to use this story (for grown-ups)

Words that help

Questions parents ask

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