Fire evacuation

Sounding of the Fire Alarm or the PA System means you must evacuate the building immediately.

As you evacuate the building, move to the designated assembly areas as directed by floor wardens. DO NOT stop and gather immediately outside the building exits as this causes congestion.

Review the evacuation plans and designated assembly areas for your campus below.

Important Reminders:

  • Follow shutdown procedures in labs, shops, and kitchen areas
  • Quickly gather your personal belongings
  • Leave calmly using routes designated on emergency evacuation maps, closing doors behind you on your way to the assembly areas
  • Use the stairs (persons with mobility impairment(s), see below)
  • Do not use elevators (persons with mobility impairment(s), see below)
  • Follow the instructions of the floor warden to the nearest stairwell/exit and exit out of the building to the assembly areas
  • If you are in your car during a fire alarm, turn engine off, leave car and exit the area
  • In smoke, stay close to the floor; breathe shallowly through nose, using a shirt as a filter
  • Do not exit onto balconies; assemble in groups at street level, in designated assembly areas, away from the building and the danger of shattering glass.
  • Stay with your group and inform others if you decide to leave the site
  • Report missing persons to security or your floor warden
  • Do not re-enter the building for any reason until the ALL-CLEAR signal is given by emergency response personnel
  • Follow instructions from emergency personnel (wearing orange vests)
  • Check doors for heat before opening
  • Do not run
  • If you encounter heavy smoke, keep low (crawl, if physically able), use the wall to guide you to the nearest exit

Evacuation of Persons with Disabilities:

Every member of the ÌÇÐÄvlog´«Ã½community is encouraged to assist in the safe evacuation of persons with disabilities.

All students, employees and visitors should know where the Areas of Refuge are and at least two routes to exit the building in the event of an emergency evacuation.  

Mobility Impairment(s):

  • Wheelchair users should go to the areas of refuge. Emergency personal will assist in going down the stairs.
  • If an individual is unable to exit, assist them to an area of refuge i.e. a marked stairwell
  • Notify the floor warden, security and emergency response personnel about persons remaining in the building and their locations
  • Emergency personnel will decide when it is safe and evacuate them, as necessary

Hearing Impairment(s):

  • Get the attention of the person who may be deaf, or hard of hearing, by touching their shoulder or arm or flicking the light switch on and off.
  • When you have eye contact state the problem – use a phone or notepad to write a brief statement
  • Point to the flashing strobe above the fire alarm, which indicates the alarm is sounding

Visual Impairment(s):

  • Tell the person the nature of the emergency
  • Offer to lead the individual out of the building or to area if refuge
  • Accompany the individual to the area of refuge, and if stairwell is clear begin guiding them safely down the stairs
  • If the individual chooses to remain in an area of refuge i.e. a marked stairwell, please provide the information to the floor warden, or security and emergency response personnel stating their exact location as marked in the stairwell

Be prepared! Employees and Faculty should be familiar with the location of fire extinguishers in their immediate work area and should read the operating instructions before an emergency situation occurs. 

Enroll in a fire extinguisher training session offered by your health and safety committee.