Church evacuation plan template
A free fire evacuation plan template for churches, chapels, mosques, temples and other places of worship. It is built for the times the building is busiest: services, weddings, funerals and events.
Upload a floor plan, photo or sketch. You get a finished map with routes, symbols and these steps, ready to print.
Download the free church evacuation plan template
Each one has a title block for the building name and floor, a large space for your floor plan, a map key, "You are here", the in-case-of-fire steps below, the assembly point and emergency contacts. Landscape, in A4 and US Letter.
Printable PDF
Church fire evacuation plan template, ready to print and fill in by hand.
Editable Word (.docx)
Change any wording, add your details and paste in a floor plan picture.
Free to download, print and share. No sign-up.
What the map should show
- Every exit from the main hall, including side and back doors that are not normally used
- Routes from halls, children's rooms, the kitchen, the balcony or gallery and any basement
- Fire alarm call points and extinguishers
- Where people who need help leaving will wait and who helps them
- A "You are here" marker
- The assembly point, big enough for a full congregation and clear of the road
In case of fire: steps for a church
- 1.Raise the alarm. Press the nearest call point and tell the steward or usher on duty.
- 2.The person leading stops the service and calmly asks everyone to leave by the nearest exit.
- 3.Ushers open all exits and guide people out. Help anyone who needs it. Don't stop for belongings.
- 4.Children's leaders take their groups straight to the assembly point and keep them there until counted.
- 5.Call the fire service on the emergency number below, even if the alarm is ringing.
- 6.Go to the assembly point and stay there. Don't go back in until the fire service says it's safe.
Who is responsible
- The trustees, church council or whoever runs the building are responsible for the plan, including when it is hired out to other groups.
- Have ushers or stewards on duty at every service and event, each with an area to clear and a door to open.
- Children's and youth leaders keep a register of who is in their group and hand children only to their parents or carers.
- Groups who hire the building should be told the plan and given a copy.
How often to review and drill
- Check the plan at least once a year, and straight away after any change to the layout, exits, alarm, use of the building or the people in it.
- Replace every posted copy when the plan changes. Old maps on the wall are worse than none.
- Your local fire code, fire authority or insurer may set how often you must drill. Check with them, and keep a record of each drill and what you learned from it.
- Brief ushers before big services and events, and practise with volunteers and children's leaders at least once a year.
This is general guidance. Rules differ by country, state and city: check with your local fire authority, and with a fire safety professional for your building.
Skip the drawing: make it from your own floor plan
Upload your church's floor plan as a PDF, photo or sketch. EvacPlan tidies it, you mark the exits and routes, and you get a print-ready map for every floor with the map key and steps already on it. Free to make, and your first map downloads free.
Questions
How do you count people in a church evacuation?
Head counts are hard with an open congregation. Ushers clear their areas and report them clear; children's leaders count their registered groups. Tell the fire service what has been checked and what has not.
What about candles?
Note on the plan who is responsible for candles and that they are put out or watched at all times. Keep them away from exits and curtains.
Does it work for a mosque, temple or synagogue?
Yes. The Word file is fully editable, so change the wording to suit your community and building.
Related templates
Read more: Church evacuation planning guide