What Actually Happens During a Fire Drill, and Why Your Building Does Them Quarterly

Apr 1

3 min read

Fire drills in Ontario condominiums are not all subject to the same frequency. For buildings within the scope of Building Code Subsection 3.2.6, supervisory-staff fire drills are required at least every three months. Other buildings subject to Section 2.8 generally follow the Fire Code's applicable drill frequency. The building's approved fire safety plan determines how the drill is carried out and the appropriate degree of occupant participation.

People use fire extinguishers to douse a large blaze in a concrete training area, with thick white smoke and orange flames.

In City Site’s podcast “Ontario Fire Code Changes Condo Boards Need To Know in 2026” with Sam Soltani of The Trace Group, we discuss exactly what residents and boards should understand about quarterly fire drills, alongside other evacuation readiness, communication, and practical fire safety. The episode places fire drills in the broader context of preparedness, communication, and resident behaviour under pressure.

That perspective helps boards evaluate whether a drill is simply completed or genuinely improves the building’s response. Check out more information about this podcast here: #WeSpeakCondo podcast

The Fire Safety Plan Behind the Drill

Every required drill is carried out under the building's fire safety plan, which must be reviewed at least every 12 months and revised as necessary. The plan assigns fire-emergency roles and procedures appropriate to that building. Because buildings differ, residents should follow the specific instructions provided by their management and fire safety plan.

In larger buildings, security staff or other supervisory personnel may have defined duties in post orders or operating procedures that reflect the fire safety plan. The exact division of responsibilities varies by building.

What Residents Can Expect

When a drill begins, staff follow the building's approved procedures. Resident participation varies according to the fire safety plan and the drill procedure; the Fire Code does not prescribe a universal full-building evacuation or a standard assembly point such as the parking garage. Occupants should follow the instructions given for their building.

The Fire Code requires a record of each required fire drill to be prepared and retained for at least 12 months. The Code does not establish a requirement to record resident participation, although documenting observations and corrective actions can be a useful management practice.

Why Quarterly and Not Annually

The applicable drill frequency depends on the building. More frequent drills may help supervisory staff stay familiar with procedures and identify practical issues, but the legal frequency should be stated from the Code provision that applies to the building.

Each of these catches is worth more than the inconvenience of the drill. The blocked stairwell discovered during a drill is fixed for free. The same blockage discovered during an evacuation is a different story entirely.

What Residents Can Do

Evacuation plan poster with a red fire alarm box centered, legend icons on left, exit routes and safety warnings on white background

Residents can support fire safety by learning the building's posted emergency procedures and keeping required egress routes clear. During an alarm, follow the building's instructions and generally do not use elevators unless specifically directed to do so. Always check your building's fire safety plan and posted procedures.

Residents who want to understand the building's fire-safety program can ask management how the fire safety plan, drill schedule, and staff procedures work. City Sites Property Management supports client buildings through plan reviews, drills, and staff training, and is always glad to explain how a building's program works.

Practice Is the Plan

A fire safety plan becomes useful when the people responsible for it understand and practise the required procedures. Participating in drills as directed and knowing the building's emergency instructions can help residents respond more effectively in a real event.

For a deeper discussion of what residents and boards should understand about quarterly fire drills, listen to the full #WeSpeakCondo episode with Sam Soltani of The Trace Group. The conversation adds useful perspective on evacuation readiness, communication, and practical fire safety, and is a helpful companion to this article.

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