King University maintains a fire safety program that involves all members of the campus community and local emergency responders. In order for the fire safety programs to be effective the support of the campus community is essential. This means that cooperation of all campus community members is expected and required during fire drills, actual emergencies, and general fire code compliance.
Everyday Fire Safety
- Know where the emergency exits are located.
- Know where the fire extinguishers and alarm pull stations are in your building and how to use them.
- Request a review of your office area or event set up by Campus Security
If the Fire Alarm Sounds…
- The first and most important action should be to exit the building.
- Move quickly, but do not run.
- Do not stop to collect any personal items.
- Use normal exits if you can, but under no circumstances should you use an elevator.
- You must leave the building when a fire alarm sounds, even if you believe the alarm to be a false alarm.
- Do not re-enter the building until given permission to do so by College officials.
- Before opening a door, feel it near the top for heat. If it is cool, open it slowly. If smoke is present, close the door and use another route. Always close doors behind you to limit the spread of fire and smoke.
- If you must go through heat or heavy smoke, remember that they rise. Crawl, keeping your face very close to the floor. This applies even when opening doors; stay low and reach up to turn the knob.
- Once out of the building, move well away from the building, and if a meeting place has been arranged, go there. Do not leave the scene, or you may be believed trapped in the building. Don’t reenter the building under any circumstances unless you are officially told it is safe.
- If you are trapped, stuff a sheet under the door to keep out smoke. Open a window slightly at the top and bottom to let air in, and yell for help. If there is a phone nearby, call 911 or Security at 423-652-4333 and report your location.
Fire Alarm and Evacuation Instructions
- If you discover a fire or smoke, activate the fire alarm pull station and call, or have someone call, 911 and/or Security at 423-652-4333.
- If you feel comfortable doing so, use a fire extinguisher to control or extinguish the fire while emergency personnel are in route to your location. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PUT OUT A FIRE LARGER THAN A BASKETBALL.
When the Fire Alarm Sounds
- Exit the building immediately.
- Before opening any door, feel the door. If it is hot, do not open it. If it is not hot open the door slightly. If you encounter heat or heavy smoke close the door and stay in the room or office.
- If you cannot leave the room or office, Open the window slightly and hang a sheet or other light colored cloth out the window to attract the attention of emergency personnel. If there is a phone in the room or office, call “911” or Security at “423-652-4333” and report that you are trapped. Remain calm and give your room or office number and building location. Stuff towels, sheets or other similar materials under all doors leading into corridors. Stay close to the floor if smoke enters the room.
- If conditions allow you to leave the room or office, close, but do not lock the door and walk directly to the nearest exit and leave the building.
- If you are away from your room or office when the alarm sounds, do not return to your room or office, leave the building via the nearest exit.
- DO NOT use elevators. If the hallway and/or all exit stairwells are not accessible because of heavy smoke, return to your room or office, close the door and follow the instructions given above.
- If you have exited the facility, stand clear of the building. Emergency apparatus may be maneuvering around the building.
- Follow directions of the fire and police personnel and never re-enter the building until Campus Security gives you permission to do so.
Building Safety Features
Fire Doors: Stairwell fire doors should be kept closed at all times. During a fire, the stairwells will provide a place of refuge and will protect you during your escape from the building. If the fire doors are left open, the stairwells will act as chimneys, rapidly spreading the fire and smoke throughout the building. Exits: Each exit or exit access should be kept clearly marked with visible exit signs. You should familiarize yourself with all exit routes in your facility when you move in.
Fire Alarms: Fire alarm systems provide a means of prompt notification to all occupants of an emergency. State law and King University policy requires that all building occupants exit the building once a fire alarm has sounded.
Fire Extinguishers: Multi-purpose ABC fire extinguishers are located throughout all the campus buildings and residence halls for use by the occupants on most types of small fires. Classes for proper use of a fire extinguisher can be requested through campus security by emailing your request to [email protected].
If you choose to use a fire extinguisher use the P.A.S.S. method:
- P – Pull the pin.
- A – Aim.
- S – Squeeze the trigger.
- S – Sweep the fire.
Potential Hazards
Appliances: Sun Lamps, Halogen Lamps, Hot Plates, Toaster Ovens, Electric Skillets, Rice Steamers, Woks, Indoor or Outside Grills, Space Heaters and other high powered electrical appliances are prohibited in residence hall rooms. Items such as irons and hair dryers should be unplugged after use and not stored until they are cool enough to touch. Too many appliances plugged into the same outlet or extension cord may cause an overloading of the circuit resulting in loss of power or possible fire. Check the student handbook for a list of items prohibited in the residence halls at students.king.edu/student-handbook/view.
Obstacles: Storage of bicycles, chairs, desks, trunks, etc. should not be stored in hallways, stairwells, or any place which would interfere with public access or exit areas of the building. These items left unattended in such areas are in violation of fire safety codes and will be removed by security personnel.
Open Flames: Candles, incense, charcoal grills, etc. are not permitted in any residence hall and most campus buildings.
Flammable Liquids: Gasoline, paint, ether, propane or any other flammable liquids or gasses are not allowed in any of the residential hall and most campus buildings.
Fireworks: Fireworks, gunpowder or any other explosives are not allowed on campus under state law.
Elevators: Elevators should not be used during an actual emergency. The elevator shaft could act as a chimney in transmitting heat and smoke from floor to floor. Also, elevators may malfunction and stop at the floor involved in the fire, opening automatically, and exposing the passengers to heat and smoke.
Party Decorations: The use of items such as, but not limited to; corn stalks and bales of hay for party decorations is strictly prohibited in residence halls and most campus buildings. Check the student handbook for a list of items prohibited in the residence halls at students.king.edu/student-handbook/view.
General Information
Reporting: All fire-related incidents regardless of the severity should be reported to Campus Security immediately. Any unsafe condition such as electrical problems, broken glass, broken handrails, broken or loose tile etc. should be reported to an Area Coordinator, Resident Assistant or facilities during the day and Campus Security after business hours.
False Alarms: Turning in a false alarm, tampering with fire equipment or discharging fire extinguishers is a criminal offense and a violation of King University policy. Abuse of fire alarm systems creates a complacent attitude among the building occupants which may result in injury or death when the alarm is ignored in an actual emergency situation. Fire alarm systems such as pull boxes and smoke alarms may not be tampered with or altered for any reason.
For more information visit the United States Fire Administration webpage, “Campus fire safety outreach materials” at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/college.html.