Is It Really Illegal To Stay At Your Desk During An Idaho Fire Alarm?

We've all been there. You're at work, in the middle of a project that has to be done by the end of the day. You feel the weight of your deadlines begins to cave in on you, but you're about to see the light at the end of the tunnel when, all of a sudden, a loud, piercing, staccato sound begins. Lights start to flash from the ceiling, and your coworkers begin filing out of the office.

There is no convenient time for a fire alarm to go off at work, but it almost always happens at the worst possible time. You know the likelihood of a fire in the building is slim to none. You don't smell smoke, and then there's the matter of that deadline. When you stop your project, leave your office, and wait for the fire department to clear the building, you will have lost a lot of time. In fact, one study shows that every time you are interrupted, it takes you 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back on track. Another says that every time you are interrupted doing a task, that task will take 15-24% longer to complete. So, you decide to play the odds and stay at your desk and keep working.

In Idaho, as in most states, it is generally illegal to stay in an office building when the fire alarm goes off. This law is to keep the safety of the people who work there and to prevent potential tragedies caused by fires. Ignoring these alarms can have serious consequences.

Idaho, like many states, has adopted the International Fire Code (IFC), which mandates strict regulations regarding fire safety. A fire alarm is supposed to signal an imminent danger, like a fire or toxic smoke. Ignoring the alarm not only endangers your life but also potentially puts the lives of first responders at risk if they have to rescue you.

While a specific fine for ignoring a fire alarm isn't posted anywhere, based on Boise and Ada County's other penalties for fire code violations, we believe that the penalties for ignoring a fire alarm in Boise could result in $50-$100 fines for your first offense and $200-$300 for repeat offenses.

While it's easy to be tempted to stay at your desk to get that project done on time, you have to take fire alarms seriously. You should follow your workplace's evacuation plan and not assume it's a false alarm. Your safety and those around you should be your top priority. The consequences of staying at your desk can be severe, with either your wallet or your life. So, it's better to be safe than sorry.