School fire drills are quickly becoming insignificant and inconvenient to school administrators. When the time for the monthly fire drill rolls around, it is often performed with a "let's get this over with" attitude. Although all schools conduct fire drills, seldom do they effectively train students and staff members how to respond in a real emergency. With preparation, however, principals can train their schools to respond appropriately and efficiently for that one time when the fire alarm sounds and it is not a drill--for when it is the real thing. School administrators are responsible for ensuring that the students and the faculty know how to evacuate the building in a safe and timely fashion if there is a fire. This article provides an extensive list of factors to consider when preparing for and conducting fire drills.