First, I would try my best to do as much preparation and planning ahead of the fire as possible. I would probably begin by conducting risk assessment surveys to identify any problem areas in my museum before we had an actual fire. After I did the first risk assessment, I would probably schedule a regular time to repeat the risk assessments, and I would also probably consult with other museum directors and local businesses so I could get an idea of how they are handling problems like these. The next thing I would do is consult with the local fire department to locate any missed problem areas and design smart escape routes. Acting upon their suggestions, I would install any fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, and any other necessary equipment. After I complied with the fire department's requirements, I would probably verify my museum's insurance coverage and make arrangements for any supplementary coverage that I need.
After I dealt with these people, I would probably begin making the necessary in-house arrangements. First, I would an employee list and store it in my disaster preparation kit (below), and then I would probably take the fire escape plans that I made with the fire department and form an official emergency procedure for my employees that would include a notification system, a fire escape plan for everyone (including the elderly and infirm workers), a meeting spot for all employees, and general "what-to-do" checklists for my employees. I would post these plans on the intranet, in the employee lounge, and I would give a copy to each supervisor and each employee. After I made these plans, I would schedule and follow through on practice runs of the plan so no one gets caught unprepared. I would also put one of these plans in my home, a couple at nearby off-site locations, and one in my disaster preparation kit (below).
After I dealt with my employees' safety, I would next concern myself with the in-house items and documents under my care. I would probably arrange for any preventitive measures possible, but I would also include checklists and priority lists for the proper salvage of my museum's artifacts. I would also arrange for a backup of all of the documents and records in the building, and then I would arrange for a backup of that backup material. I would also make copies of my checklists, priority lists, and any insurance and financial documents, and those copies would also go in my disaster preparation kit (below).
After I made the necessary arrangements for my employees and the items and documents under my care, I would begin making the final preparations. I would assemble my disaster preparation kit which would include all of the checklists and lists above plus first-aid kits, insurance and bank policies, fire extinguishers, gloves and masks, and any salvage/repair equipment necessary. I would place the kit in an easily-accessible place that would remain unlocked. After that kit has been assembled, I would then arrange for a person (probably me) to talk to the press, board members, and employees, and I would also arrange for a person to take care of any necessary de-contamination/post-emergency rides that my employees would require. Finally, I would practice my emergency procedures with my employees at least a couple of times a year so that they know what to if a fire should occur.
If the worst occurred and a fire did happen in my museum, I would try to remain calm. The first thing I would do is sound the alarm, thereby alerting both my employees and the fire department. I would tell my employees to grab any necessary items such as purses, car keys, and house keys. Next, I would make sure that any visitors/public persons get out of the building, and I would be calm but very firm and try to get them out as quickly as possible. Next, I would grab all of my emergency supplies, kits, checklists, and other information before I followed my employees out of the burning building. Once everyone assembled in our meeting place, I would use the employee list that I had assembled to verify that everyone made it safely out of the building. If its safe and applicable, I would send them home after the appropriate amount of time, and I would make sure that they had appropriate transportation home. If they needed to go to the hospital for de-contamination, I would provide a ride that would follow after the ambulance and take them home.
After I verified my employees and visitors safety, I would speak to the appropriate board members, press members, and any other persons that desired information. After this, I would go ahead and deal with any other problems that arose, wait until the fire dies down, then begin to assess damage, begin salvage operations, contact my insurance company, and deal with any other issues that arise.
Although a disaster like a fire is never desirable, I would hope that my advanced preparations would both save lives and minimize the damage that such a fire could cause.
