Hongqiao Subdistrict Teams Up with Tenants for Fire Drill in Office Buildings

Hongqiao Subdistrict, together with CHAGEE and Hongqiao Development Property Management, staged an immersive fire safety drill inside an office tower this week under the guidance of the district fire and rescue authority. The event brought professional firefighting instruction and realistic rescue scenarios directly into the workplace, giving employees a hands-on opportunity to learn, understand, and practice self-rescue techniques.

The exercise began when a sharp alarm rang out through the United Office Building. "Fire on the floor — bend low, cover your nose, and evacuate along the safe passage in an orderly manner!" More than 80 employees from CHAGEE's headquarters immediately set aside their work and moved quickly toward the exits. Within minutes, everyone had reached the designated ground-floor assembly point. Firefighters conducted a headcount and confirmed that no one was "trapped," marking a successful conclusion to the coordinated evacuation.

"I'd only watched fire-safety videos online before," said one participant, Xiao Zhou, after completing the drill. "I realized how easily you forget to stay low when panicking. The real practice really helps you remember the practical details."

Following the evacuation, firefighters led a hands-on training session. They demonstrated the correct use of dry-powder extinguishers and fire hoses, and broke down common mistakes in tackling early-stage fires — from overheated office electronics to burning paper. Employees took turns operating the equipment against simulated flames. A parked fire engine and its extended aerial ladder drew the biggest crowds, as the ladder rose to simulate a high-rise rescue and illustrate the full high-altitude response process.

The event also featured a fire-safety quiz with approachable questions such as "Can an overloaded office socket cause a fire?" and "Should you take the elevator during an escape?" Correct answers earned small prizes, adding a relaxed tone to what is usually a serious subject and helping participants absorb key knowledge in bite-sized form.

A CHAGEE safety manager noted that offices are densely populated and full of electrical equipment, so fire safety can never be relaxed. Where past training relied mostly on online briefings, this live, street-level drill combined action with instruction and drew unusually high engagement.

Hongqiao Subdistrict officials said they will continue to partner with local enterprises to run regular, down-to-earth fire drills, weaving safety awareness into daily office life and strengthening the area's protective network through government-business cooperation.