Fire Safety Policy

Familiarize yourself with the location of alarms and extinguishers.  Report discharged fire extinguishers to security and safety immediately.

IF YOU DISCOVER SMOKE OR FIRE: 
a) Sound the fire alarm.
b) Go to the nearest exit and leave the building.
c) Call the Security and Safety Department at 5555 or activate an emergency phone.
d) If you are in your room when an alarm sounds, feel the door and handle to see it’s hot. If it’s hot don’t open the door.  Call the Security Office at 5555 and/or open your window and call for help.  If the door is not hot exit the building immediately.
e) If an exit is blocked, try another exit or return to your room, close the door, open a window and yell for help.
f) If you are in a smoke-filled area, keep low to the floor to escape the smoke.
g) Know all the exits and fire escape plans in your building.

Throughout the year Residence Life Staff will conduct fire safety inspections of every University-owned residential room on campus to insure the safety of the entire building. Facilities Operations regularly tests building alarms and inspects fire safety equipment throughout the campus. 
Each student room is equipped with a smoke detector.  The student is responsible for reporting a malfunctioning smoke detector to the residential coordinator, house manager, or security immediately.  The detectors are checked by residential staff, and custodians at least 4 times during the year—before fall opening, at Thanksgiving break, at winter break, and at spring break. 
Certain obvious fire hazards are prohibited in residence hall rooms.  Among them are candles and incense, hot plates, kerosene heaters, oil lamps,  space heaters, immersion coils, internal combustion engines, halogen lamps, cords under rugs, flammable gas and liquids, and fireworks.  The following room decoration policy is in effect:
1. Tapestries will be limited to two per room, to be hung on walls only.  Fireproofing treatment is recommended.           
2. No items may be suspended from room ceilings or pipes.
3. Posters should not cover more than 50% of wall space.
Please see special section on lofts.

Please note:
1. Fireworks are illegal to possess or use in New York State and are prohibited at St. Lawrence University.
2. Any student guilty of starting a fire or intentionally turning in a false alarm may be suspended from St. Lawrence University and be subject to criminal prosecution.
3. Failure to cooperate with University personnel during a building evacuation or fire alarm will result in a fine and/or disciplinary action.
4. Any student guilty of tampering with smoke detectors, fire extinguishers or other fire safety equipment including safety lights or fire sensors is held responsible for endangering the safety of the occupants of the building and subject to a fine and/or disciplinary action.

A $250 fine is assessed in cases of students tampering with smoke sensor detector, inappropriately discharging fire extinguishers or breaking the seal that indicates that the fire extinguisher has been prepared for use.  This fine also applies to the misuse of fire alarm pull stations and stopper II devices.

A $250 fine is assessed to any student inappropriately discharging a sprinkler system and the student may be assessed damages caused by water.

5. When there is damage in a room from a fire caused by actions that are in violation of University policy, the responsible party will be fined as appropriate, pays for damages caused by the fire as determined by the University, and is referred to the Student Judiciary Board.

6. A student guilty of burning candles, incense, oil lamps or other open flame objects in a residence hall room is subject to a fine and/or disciplinary action. The burning of candles is prohibited in residential buildings.  Students wishing to burn candles for religious purposes must contact the Director of Residence Life, who may refer the student to the University Chaplain who will identify a non-residential location and appropriate guidelines for candle burning.

7. Smoke detectors in student rooms must always be intact, functioning properly, and left exposed.  Do not cover them with posters, tapestries, netting, flags, or other materials.  Contact custodians, a residential staff person, or security if there are problems with a smoke detector.  Damaging, disassembling, or removing smoke detectors will result in billing from Residence Life and disciplinary action.  

8. All fires must be reported to security even though the building occupants may extinguish the flames.           
9. Fire lanes must be kept free for emergency vehicles.  Vehicles may be towed at owner’s expense.

10. If a floor or building loses power, all appliances including computers should be disconnected and then later reconnected. This procedure will avoid appliance surging and blowing fuses.