Fire Safety

Notification

1. Pull fire alarm to notify campus of fire and trigger evacuation
2. Call 911 when it is safe to do so.
3. Report to Facilities Services 796-6496
4. Notify Chancellor if major fire or there are injuries

Safety Briefing

It is the responsibility of all persons who enter or occupy a UAS building to acquaint themselves with at least two paths of egress from the building.

As a matter of routine, faculty and staff should advise students and visitors of the location of the exits to be used in the event of an emergency and the location of the Assembly Area (so that a headcount can be made). This should occur for each class or gathering as soon as possible following the beginning of each semester or prior to each gathering.

UAS buildings are equipped with automatic fire detection equipment, sprinklers and alarms.  Evacuation plans are posted showing routes to leave each building.  Fire extinguishers are located throughout the campus.

Responsibilities

Supervisors and teaching staff are responsible for verifying or attempting to verify that all subordinates and students have safely evacuated if smoke or fire are present or the alarm is sounded.

The Residence Life Managers or Residence Hall Coordinators are to maintain rolls of those under their care. They are to take the rolls with them when evacuating to assure that all students are accounted for at the designated assembly area.

Preplan your escape:

• Know the location of all alarm pull stations.
• Make sure your floor has at least two unobstructed ways out of the building.
• Check the fire exits to make sure they are usable, clear of obstructions.
• Read the instructions on the fire extinguisher near your work area.
• Do not use elevators.
• Learn the sound of your buildings’ fire alarm, note strobe lights.
• Verify that emergency numbers are posted on or near all telephones.

Evacuation

• If there is a Fire or Fire Alarm:  Everyone Evacuates Immediately!
• Don’t assume that the alarm is a test or false alarm. In a fire, seconds count.
• If you discover a fire or smoke condition, sound the building alarm by activating the nearest pull station.
• Try to help others, if you can do so safely.
• If fire danger is obvious, use fire extinguishers to aid in evacuation.
• When leaving, take personal belongings, close the door behind you. Do not lock.
• From a safe location, make a follow up call to the Fire Department (911). Inform them of: The location and nature of the fire or smoke; The location and condition of any person left in the building.
• Meet at your Assembly Area and take a head count.
• If someone is missing, do not reenter building to search, inform fire or police officials.
• Do not reenter the building, even if the alarm no longer sounds, until a fire official, the Director of Facilities or their representative determines the building is safe.

Use of Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are to be used by trained persons only. Do not attempt to fight a fire if you or others could be in danger. Unless it is clear that a person with a fire extinguisher will quickly be able to put out the fire, pull the fire alarm to initiate an evacuation.

With few exceptions, fire extinguishers available throughout the UAS campus are “ABC” type. These are suitable to put out fires involving combustibles (paper, wood), flammable liquids and electrical equipment.

To operate most fire extinguishers:

• Pull the pin.
• Aim nozzle at the base of the fire.
• Squeeze or press the handle.
• Shoot the retardant at the base of the base of the fire, sweeping from side to side.
• Watch for re-flash.

After the fire is out:

If the fire is put out and the smoke is not a significant hazard, telephone Facilities Services (x6496) during working hours (8pm – 5pm) or 1-866-999-1822 after hours to report the location and nature of the fire and how it was brought under control. Fill out an Incident Report and forward to Facilities Services.

Fire survival strategies

If you have to open an interior door during an evacuation, check for smoke and heat before opening.  This can be done by placing the back of the hand as high as possible on the door or by lightly coughing metal door components that project through the door to detect heat.  Absent any indication of heat, the door may be slowly and partially opened to check visually for smoke.

Because heat and smoke rise naturally, it is more desirable to relocate to a point below the fire rather than above it.

Movement to another wing of the building, entering an adjacent building or moving to the opposite side of a building will improve a persons’ safety. Care should be taken to close doors as you move from one location to another to limit the spread of smoke and heat.