Fire Procedures

Fire Procedures in General Campus Buildings

In an event of a fire, please do the following:

Immediately activate the building fire alarm system.
Assist any person in immediate danger to safety, if it can be accomplished without risk to yourself.
If the fire is small enough, use a nearby fire extinguisher to control and extinguish the fire. Don't fight the fire if these conditions exist:

The fire is too large or out-of-control (larger than the size of a small trash can).
If the atmosphere is toxic.

If the first attempts to put out the fire do not succeed, evacuate the building immediately.
Doors, and if possible, windows should be closed as the last person leaves a room or area.
When exiting through a closed interior door, check the door with the back of your hand for excessive heat in case fire is on the other side.
Do not use elevators. Use building stairwells.
When they hear the fire alarm sound, all persons in the building must evacuate immediately.
Once outside of the building, cross the nearest street to allow emergency crews access. Dial 911 from a safe location if emergency personnel have not arrived.

If you live in on-campus housing, the OSU Reslife Handbook and the University Apartments Handbook contain additional information on safety policies. Fire drills are conducted in all campus housing units. An unannounced drill is held at the start of each semester.

Laboratory Fire Procedures

If you are in a chemistry or biology lab, please do the following:

1. All containers of infectious materials shall be placed into autoclaves, incubators, refrigerators or freezers.

2. Follow Fire Procedures in General Campus Buildings (above).

Laboratory personnel evacuated from the building in an emergency who may be contaminated with an infectious agent due to an exposure or release must do the following:

1. Prevent others from becoming exposed or contaminated.

2. Take self-protective measures by removing contaminated clothing if possible.

3. Wait for emergency decontamination by emergency response personnel.