Responding to and Reporting a Fire
If you discover smoke or other evidence of any fire or emergency:
- Activate the nearest fire alarm box as you leave. Only if safe to do so, shut down critical experiments and turn off associated services before you leave. Do not take extra time to collect coats or other personal items.
- Remove injured or disabled persons from danger, only if it is safe for you to do so. [In the Ag/For building injured/disabled persons can be taken to the west or north stairwell to await rescue – other stairwells are not ‘fire refuges’.]
- Close doors to prevent fire from spreading (for security, doors can be locked, if desired).
- Evacuate via the nearest safe exit (know, in advance, of at least two exits).
- Do not use an elevator. If in smoke or heat, stay low.
- Advise an Emergency Warden of the location and nature of the fire, and, if you know of anyone still in the building, give their location.
- The Control Centre (2-5555) should be advised of the location and nature of the fire.
- The fire should also be reported to the Contractor Safety & Fire Prevention Coordinator (David Reiter, 780-248-1987). This will normally be done by the manager of the Office of Emergency Management (Adam Conway, 780-492-2663).
- For more information, please visithttp://www.facilities.ualberta.ca/Operations_Maintenance/Health_and_Safety_Program.aspx.
Should You Try To Control Or Put Out A Fire?
- Only if you have activated the fire alarm, and if there is no significant personal risk, and if you have a safe exit, and if the fire has not spread significantly from its origin (e.g. it is relatively easily extinguishable, such as in a waste basket), then you may attempt to extinguish, confine, or control the fire until the Fire Department arrives. The general rule to follow is: if one fire extinguisher is not enough, evacuate the area.
- Know the location and use of fire extinguishers before a fire emergency arises (they are typically near the main exits of labs and in the former fire hose hallway cabinets).
To use an extinguisher, P A S S:
- Pull ………….. the pin out
- Aim ………….. low at the base of the fire
- Squeeze …… the trigger
- Sweep ……… from side-to-side
- Our dry chemical fire extinguishers are rated for type A, B and C fires (i.e. all fires except metal fires; sand can be used to smother metal fires).
- Fire extinguishers must be charged, therefore report any fire extinguisher use (Ag/For Ctr: Urmila Basu; Research Stations: Unit Manager).