Fire Safety and information

*Fire Alarms*	*Fire Safety*
*Fire Classifications*	*Use of Extinguishers*

Fire alarms

Fire And Emergency Evacuation Procedures

There will be times that the Department of Public Safety will conduct scheduled Fire Alarm Evacuation Drills at the dormatories on campus. These drills will usually not be announce to the residents with the exception of the RA's and CA's. These drills are done to check that the alarm system is working properly and to give the residents a chance to hear the alarm and so they will be able to recognize it in the event of an actual alarm. The alarm systems in the buildings have a loud audible bell or horn, and flashing strobe lights. These tests also give the residents an oppertunity to become familiar with the evacuation procedures.

When an alarm is activated there are a few steps to follow:

Remain calm and close the widows in the room.
Take only clothing that will be needed for they type of weather conditions that exist. Do not try and collect personnal items to take with you.
Turn off any electrical items you made have on at the time, including lights and a stove/oven.
Stay low if you are going through smoke or toxic fumes.
Leave by the nearest exit. When a fire alarm is active any door to the building may be used to exit so long as it is safe to do so.
Do not use elevators. Use only the stairs.
Never attempt to go back into the building even if the alarm stops sounding. Wait until a Public Safety Officer has cleared the building and given the permission to re-enter.
In an actual emergency if you are trapped and not able to exit a room or the building, yell for help and call the Department of Public Safety at ext. 1111 or 1349 using a phone in the building or your cellular phone. Be sure you can give your location in the build as best as you can so an officer can locate and assist you.

Fire safety

All residence halls are protected by fire detection and fire fighting equipment. All residents should be familiar with the emergency escape plan for their residence hall and the location of fire extinguishers.

Tampering with any fire detection or fire fighting equipment is a violation of state laws as well as college policy. Tampering with fire equipment (extinguishers, detectors, sprinklers, etc.) can create a life-threatning situation by preventing the equipment from properly detecting a possible fire, or the ability to attempt to extinguish or control a fire before additional equipment can arrive.

Candles and incense are a fire hazard and are not permitted in the residence halls or apartments. Combustible materials such as gasoline, paint thinner, and oil lamps are not permitted within the residential facilities. Fire safety codes require strict compliance with this regulation. Propane grills are prohibited.

NEVER FIGHT A FIRE:

If the fire is spreading beyond the spot where it started.

If you can’t fight the fire with your back to an escape exit.

If the fire can block your only escape.

If you don’t have adequate fire-fighting equipment

In any of these situations......

DON’T FIGHT THE FIRE YOURSELF. CALL FOR HELP!

ALWAYS:

Make sure the fire doors in halls and stair wells are closed at all times.

Extinguish all cigarettes and matches and empty wastebaskets often.

Close door to your room when you retire. Exit when fire alarm sounds!!!!

NEVER:

Smoke in bed.

Smoke in your room.

Burn candles.

Allow an open flame (cigarette, candle, torch, etc.) or cooking appliance (coffee pot, hot plate, etc.) near common combustible material, i.e., wood, paper, textiles, or flammable liquid.

Ignore fire alarm.

fire classifications

CLASS A: Ordinary combustibles or fibrous material such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber and some plastics.

-Extinguish ordinary combustibles by cooling the material below its ignition temperature and soaking the fibers to prevent re-ignition. Use pressurized water, foam or multi-purpose (ABC rated) dry chemical extinguisher. DO NOT USE carbon dioxide or ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical extinguisher on Class A fires.

CLASS B: Flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, paint, paint thinner and propane.

-Extinguish flammable liquids, greases by removing the oxygen, preventing the vapors from reaching the ignition source or inhibiting the chemical chain reaction. Foam, carbon dioxide, ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical, multi-purpose dry chemical, and halon extinguishers may be used to fight Class B fires.

CLASS C: Energized electrical equipment, such as appliances, switches, panel boxes and power tools.

-Extinguish energized electrical equipment by using an extinguishing agent that is not capable of conducting electrical current. Carbon dioxide, ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical, multi-purpose dry chemical and halon* fire
extinguishers may be used to fight Class C fires. DO NOT USE WATER EXTINGUISHERS ON ENERGIZED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.

CLASS D: Certain combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. These metals burn at high temperatures and give off sufficient oxygen to support combustion. They may react violently with water or other chemicals, and must be handled with care.

-Extinguish combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium with dry powder extinguishing agents specially designated for the material involved. In most cases, they absorb the heat from the material, cooling it below its ignition temperature.

use of a portable extinguisher

REMEMBER THE ACRONYM, “P.A.S.S.”

P ……...Pull the Pin

A ……...Aim the extinguisher nozzle at the base of the flame.

S ………Squeeze trigger while holding the extinguisher upright.

S ………Sweep the extinguisher from side to side, covering the area of the fire with the extinguishing agent.

*NOTE: PULL A FIRE ALARM BOX AND ALERT OTHERS BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

400 W. North St. - Rear | Carlisle, PA 17013
Telephone Ext.: 1349 | Off Campus: (717) 245-1349