APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT MARCH 6, 1993
 
 
  A.   Purpose.  This is a statement of official University
                 policy for the reporting of fire emergencies and
       for the evacuation of campus buildings during fire
       emergencies, in compliance with local, state, and federal
       regulations.
 
  B.   Policy.   A fire emergency exists whenever:
 
       1.   A building fire evacuation alarm is sounding;
 
       2.   An uncontrolled fire or imminent fire hazard occurs in
            any building or area of the campus;
 
       3.   There is the presence of smoke, or the odor of burning;
 
       4.   There is spontaneous or abnormal heating of any
            material, an uncontrolled release of combustible or
            toxic gas or other material, or a flammable liquid
            spill.
 
  C.   Procedures.
 
       Campus Buildings shall be immediately and totally evacuated
       whenever the building evacuation alarm is sounding.
 
       1.   Upon discovery of evidence that a fire emergency
            exists, an individual shall accomplish, or cause to be
            accomplished, the following actions:
 
            (a)  SOUND AN ALARM.  Activate the building fire alarm
                 in buildings equipped with a manual fire alarm
                 system.  Shout a warning and knock on doors as you
                 evacuate in buildings not equipped with a fire
                 alarm.
 
            (b)  SHUT OFF ALL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT IN YOUR AREA.
 
            (c)  LEAVE THE BUILDING AT ONCE.
 
            (d)  CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM A SAFE PLACE.
 
                 (1)  On-Campus phones DIAL X53333
 
                 (2)  Off-Campus phones and campus pay phones
                      DIAL 911
 
                 (3)  Use Campus emergency phones;
 
                      Indoors - Yellow wall phones with red
                      "EMERGENCY" markings (some corridors)
 
                      Outdoors - Yellow phone boxes with red
                      "EMERGENCY" markings, under blue lights.
 
                 (4)  When the emergency operator answers, ask for
                      the fire department, give as much specific
                      information as possible.  State that you are
                      calling from UMCP and include the proper name
                      of the building and room number, floor, or
                      other specific area. Do not hang up until
                      released by the dispatcher.  A PHONE CALL
                      MUST BE MADE!  ALL BUILDING FIRE ALARMS DO
                      NOT NOTIFY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
 
            (e)       MEET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OUTSIDE AND DIRECT
                      THEM TO THE EMERGENCY.
 
            (f)       ALL FIRES, EVEN IF EXTINGUISHED OR FOUND
                      EXTINGUISHED, MUST BE REPORTED.
 
            (g)       ALL FIRE ALARMS, EVEN IF SUSPECTED TO BE
                      FALSE OR ACCIDENTAL, MUST BE REPORTED TO THE
                      FIRE DEPARTMENT.
 
       2.   The evacuation procedures shall be as follows:
 
            (a)  It shall be the responsibility of every person to
                 immediately leave a University building whenever
                 the fire alarm is activated or a fire emergency
                 exists.
 
                 All students, faculty, and staff are required to
                 leave the building and remain outside until the
                 emergency is over.  No one shall restrict or
                 impede the evacuation.
 
            (b)  Department heads are expected to review annually
                 fire prevention and fire survival information with
                 faculty and staff, or to schedule such a
                 presentation with the Department of Environmental
                 Safety.  Such information is available from the
                 Department for use and distribution.
 
       3.   Whenever it is brought to the attention of the staff of
            residential buildings, or departmental personnel, that
            the fire alarm or sprinkler system is inoperable or has
            been placed out of service, a firewatch shall be
            established.
 
            (a)  Responsible personnel (residential staff, safety
                 committee, etc.) shall be assigned to the
                 firewatch.
            (b)  The entire building shall be toured at least one
                 time during each hour of the firewatch.
 
            (c)  The emergency dispatcher (405-3555) shall be
                 notified each hour that the watch has been
                 performed.
 
            (d)  The firewatch shall be maintained at all times
                 that the building is occupied until the fire
                 protection system is repaired.
 
       4.   INTERRUPTION OF FIRE ALARM:
 
            (a)  No person may shut off any fire protection or
                 alarm system during a fire emergency incident
                 without the permission of the fire department
                 officer in charge.
 
            (b)  No person may shut off any fire protection or
                 alarm system during a bomb threat emergency
                 without the permission of the police officer in
                 charge.
 
            (c)  It shall be the responsibility of the University
                 Physical Plant Department to reset or repair any
                 fire protection or alarm system after an emergency
                 incident when notified by the fire or police
                 department in charge.  The Physical Plant shall
                 inspect each such system immediately after every
                 emergency incident and place the system in
                 serviceable condition.
 
            (d)  The fire and police departments may reset an alarm
                 system only if there is no damage to the system
                 and when it is within their technical capabilities
                 to do so.
 
            (e)  Any person desiring to interrupt service to any
                 fire protection or alarm system must obtain
                 permission from the Department of Physical Plant,
                 Work Control Center (405-2222) which shall notify
                 the fire and police departments of every such
                 interruption.
 
            (f)  Fire or police department must request the
                 Physical Plant to repair or rest a fire protection
                 system, via the Work Control Center (405-2222).
 
       5.   INFORMATION RELEASE TO MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC:
 
            All information regarding University fires will be
            released through the Department of Environmental Safety
            in cooperation with the Public Information Office.  No
            other University agency or employee may release
            official statements regarding the cause, origin, or
            nature of campus fires.
 
  D.   Information.
 
       Assistance will be provided by the Department of
  Environmental Safety to any Department requiring help and advice
  in its implementation of this UMCP policy.