Printable Scholar

When We Have a Fire Drill
A social story about a fire drill

Ages 4-812 pagesFree printable

A calm, first-person story about a fire drill: the loud alarm, lining up, going outside and coming back in. Read it together on screen below, one page at a time, or print it as a book.

Free printableRead the story
When We Have a Fire Drill social story cover

Read the story

Read one page at a time. Let the child point at the pictures and say what is happening.

When We Have a Fire Drill page 1
Page 1At school, we practice fire drills. A fire drill is practice for staying safe.
When We Have a Fire Drill page 2
Page 2The fire alarm rings. It is very loud, and sometimes it flashes. It can ring without a warning first.
When We Have a Fire Drill page 3
Page 3The loud sound can surprise me. That is okay. I can cover my ears if I want to.
When We Have a Fire Drill page 4
Page 4When I hear the alarm, I stop what I am doing. I leave my things where they are. They stay in the classroom while I am gone.
When We Have a Fire Drill page 5
Page 5My teacher asks us to line up at the door. I stand in line with my class.
When We Have a Fire Drill page 6
Page 6We walk down the hallway together. Walking helps everyone stay safe. We are quiet so we can hear our teacher.
When We Have a Fire Drill page 7
Page 7We go outside to our meeting spot. My class stands together.
When We Have a Fire Drill page 8
Page 8My teacher counts us. My teacher wants to know that everyone is here.
When We Have a Fire Drill page 9
Page 9We wait outside until the drill is over. Waiting can feel long. I can take slow, deep breaths.
When We Have a Fire Drill page 10
Page 10When the drill is over, we go back inside. My teacher tells us when.
When We Have a Fire Drill page 11
Page 11We walk back to our classroom in a line. I go back to my desk.
When We Have a Fire Drill page 12
Page 12Fire drills help us practice. When the alarm rings, I know what to do.

Print this story free

  • Full-page book: 13 pages, big pictures, for reading together
  • Half-page booklet: print, cut down the middle and staple
  • One-page summary: the whole story on one sheet
Full-page book (US Letter) Full-page book (A4) Half-page booklet One-page summary
Free, no sign-up.

More social stories in printable packs

This story is one of 12. The other ten come in two packs of six, in the same three formats.

School Routines and Safety social stories pack 6 stories

School Routines and Safety

Fire drills, safe hands, personal space, waiting, staying with the class and walking in a line.

Get the 6 stories for $7
Big Feelings and Flexible Thinking social stories pack 6 stories

Big Feelings and Flexible Thinking

Feeling upset, hearing no, making mistakes, asking for help, sharing and changes of plan.

Get the 6 stories for $7
All 12 social stories Best value

Both Packs: All 12 Stories

Every story in both packs, in every format.

Get all 12 for $12

More social stories

Safe Hands social storySafe HandsMy Personal Space social storyMy Personal SpaceWaiting My Turn social storyWaiting My TurnFreeStaying With My Class social storyStaying With My ClassWalking in a Line social storyWalking in a LineWhen I Feel Upset social storyWhen I Feel UpsetWhen the Answer Is No social storyWhen the Answer Is NoWhen I Make a Mistake social storyWhen I Make a Mistake

All 12 social stories →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use this social story?
Read it on a calm day before the situation comes up, then again just before it happens. Many children like to hear it every day for a week or two. Point at the pictures and ask what the child would do.
What age is it for?
Children of about 4 to 8, in preschool, kindergarten, first and second grade, at home or school, including autistic children and children in special education or speech therapy.
Can I print it?
Yes, free: a full-page book (US Letter or A4), a half-page booklet and a one-page summary.