Campus Housing - Fire Alarm Procedures

Fire safety is everyone’s responsibility. Become familiar with all residence floor exits and know the location of your form-up area outside the building. Talk to your don if you have questions or concerns. When you hear a fire alarm, it’s important that you get out quickly and stay out. In a fire situation, you may only have two or three minutes to get out safely.

Never assume that a fire alarm is only a drill or false alarm. Remember, just because you can’t see flames or smell smoke doesn’t mean there isn’t an emergency situation that requires immediate evacuation.

Please review the emergency procedures below on the opposite side. If you hear an alarm, evacuate immediately. Up-to-date fire safety and emergency procedures can be found on the Fire Safety page.

Note: There is monthly audible alarm testing that is conducted by the Plant Operations team as per the fire code. A notice is sent out with the timeframe in which the test will occur. Evacuation is not required, and the alarm will sound for less than a minute. There is an announcement that is made over the PA system prior to and at the conclusion of the test, so there is greater awareness that this is a test. If the alarm goes off at any other point, evacuate immediately.

If you hear the fire alarm, you must leave your residence immediately:

  1. As you prepare to evacuate, check the door for heat; if hot to the touch, do not open. Use available materials like wet clothing or sheets to seal door cracks or clearances.
  2. If the door is not hot and the corridor is clear, take your keys, close the door behind you and leave the building via the nearest exit stairway. Do not use the elevators.
  3. If time allows, turn off stoves and appliances; close doors and windows; put on shoes and a heavy coat in winter for protection. Cover your nose and mouth with cloth, preferably wet. Be prepared in case you encounter smoke or fire.
  4. If you encounter smoke or fire, use an alternative exit. If an alternative exit cannot be reached safely, either return to your residence or seek refuge in a nearby residence room or safe space.
  5. Once outside, move to your form-up area.
  6. Do not re-enter the building until given permission by the University of Waterloo Special Constable Service. Even if the alarm stops ringing wait for permission to re-enter.

If you discover a fire in your residence:

  1. Remain calm. Vacate the area and close the doors.
  2. Activate the nearest fire alarm pull station (located at stairwell exits).
  3. Evacuate the building immediately. Do not use the elevator.  Use an alternate exit if you encounter smoke/fire.
  4. Once outside the building, call 911 from a safe location. Also call UW Special Constable Service. Report any information about the cause of the fire and if anyone is suspected of being in the building after evacuation.
  5. Dons will provide further information at the form-up area, as it is available.

If unable to evacuate:

  1. Shelter in place or move to an area of refuge (if applicable).
  2. Close all doors & windows. A closed door can provide good protection against fire and smoke. Use wet towels or bedsheets to seal doors and air ducts.
  3. Call 911 and give them your location and circumstances. Follow the directions provided.
  4. If smoke enters the room, crouch low. Remember, heat and gases rise.
  5. Signal your position at a window if possible and safe to do so.
  6. Wait to be rescued.

Duties and responsibilities

Responsibilities of residence life coordinators

  1. Provide dons with a list of their duties and responsibilities during fire evacuations.
  2. Inform dons of any structural changes due to renovations.
  3. Review evacuation plan with dons and hold evacuation drills in September and May.

Responsibilities of dons

  1. Dons are to assist with quick and orderly evacuations. This is to be discharged without endangering the life and health of the don or building occupants.
  2. Review the Fire and Evacuation Plan with the residents of your floor. Complete the "Residence fire training checklist (PDF)" and forward it to your Community Coordinator or Residence Life Coordinator.
  3. Observe in your assigned area that all fire doors are closed and unobstructed and that stairs and corridors are clear of obstructions.
  4. If possible, maintain an updated listing of personnel normally in your assigned area with physical disabilities and require assistance during an evacuation.
  5. Participate in the annual evacuation plan review and evacuation drills.
  6. Report to your Community Coordinator or Residence Life Coordinator difficulties, ambiguities and suggestions for improvement.

Duties of dons during a fire alarm

  1. Advise all people to evacuate to the form-up area as stated in the evacuation plan. Take any action necessary to prevent panic.
  2. Ensure all residents have evacuated to their form-up area.
  3. Proceed to the annunciator panel.
  4. Relay any information you have to the Fire Department or UW Special Constables concerning people unable to evacuate or anyone remaining in the building.
  5. The Fire Department will inform the Don that it is safe to re-enter the building.
  6. Pass on evacuation reports to the Safety Office for evaluation.

Additional resources and information