The joint fire- and disaster-prevention council of all Palaceside Building tenants held the autumn comprehensive fire drill on the 20th. It is usually run in spring and autumn, but this spring it could not be held because of the pandemic. Everyday preparedness matters for a sudden fire or earthquake. Participants took the training seriously.
At 2:30 p.m. a building-wide emergency announcement—“A large tremor has just been felt in the Tokyo area. Please each take steps to protect yourselves”—started the drill. On the third floor a fire detector sounded and tension rose. The scenario was that office alcohol sanitizer had tipped over and caught fire. People in the office immediately tried initial extinguishing with extinguishers and indoor hydrants, but judged the fire had reached the ceiling and could not be put out. An evacuation advisory was issued to everyone in the building, and participants used the stairs toward the ground.
For COVID-19 measures, participants were asked to wear masks and keep their distance. Numbers were also kept smaller than usual.