Fire Evacuation
Fire can spread rapidly, leaving as little as a few minutes to escape safely after the alarm sounds. Know the escape route for the building you are in and your department’s or family’s meeting place. When a fire alarm sounds in a University of Michigan (U-M) facility, you must:
- Immediately exit the building
- Close the doors behind you while exiting
- Walk to the nearest exit (do not use elevators)
- Gather at the designated assembly area
- Notify U-M Police Department (UMPD) officers or the Fire Department personnel if you suspect someone is injured or trapped inside the building
- Only re-enter the building after U-M Police (UMPD), the Fire Department, or your Building Emergency Coordinator or Floor Marshal gives the “all clear”
Training and Education
Media Library: Click Emergency Evacuation: Getting Out Alive (DVD0019) DVD. My LINC and the name of the DVD will display. Click Register. You will receive a confirmation email stating your request was received. EHS will contact you for your campus address and send the DVD by campus mail.
Roles and Responsibilities when Evacuating a Building
Each and every occupant of a building, must evacuate the building when a fire alarm is activated. The following table describes the roles and responsibilities for occupant and building representatives:
| INDIVIDUAL |
WILL… |
| Floor marshals (if safe to do so) |
- Immediately communicate with occupants in their assigned area and assist in evacuation of the building
- Conduct a sweep of their assigned area
- Conduct checks of designated Areas of Rescue Assistance for persons with disabilities and convey this information to emergency responders
Also:
- Assist U-M Police officers and other emergency responders as directed – this could include monitoring of building entrances
- Perform other functions as designated in the Building Emergency Action Plan and as directed by the Building Emergency Coordinator
- After being given the “all clear” by UMPD or Fire Department personnel, floor marshals will communicate to occupants that it is safe to re-enter the building
|
| Building Emergency Coordinators will: |
- Act as the primary point of contact for emergency responders
- Assist in coordinating the response
- Monitor the activities of floor marshals and building occupants
- Communicate to floor marshals and building occupants after the “all clear” to re-occupy the building has been given by UMPD or the Fire Department
- Perform other functions as designated in the Building Emergency Action Plan
|
Emergency Responders
Emergency responders include UMPD, Environment, Health & Safety (EHS), Plant, and the Ann Arbor Fire Department.
- U-M police officers responding to an alarm will determine if there is a fire or other emergency and will summon the appropriate resources, such as the Fire Department, EHS, or Plant.
| IF THE ALARM IS DETERMINED TO BE… |
THEN UMPD WILL… |
| False |
- Reset the alarm
- Inform the Building Emergency Coordinator, Floor Marshal(s), or occupants that it is safe to re-enter the building
|
| Valid |
- Coordinate the emergency response
- Provide further direction to the Building Emergency Coordinator, Floor Marshals, and occupants
- Give the “all clear” when the incident has ended and the building is determined to be safe for occupants to re-enter the building
|
- EHS, Plant, and Ann Arbor Fire Department will be notified to respond by UMPD.
| IF THE EMERGENCY RESPONDER IS… |
WILL… |
| EHS |
- Assist in air quality monitoring
- Assist with hazardous material evaluation and mitigation
|
| F&O Maintenance Services |
- Assist in resetting alarms
- Help investigate alarm malfunctions, when needed
- Assist UMPD and the Ann Arbor Fire Department by turning building equipment or utilities on or off
- Take other steps to mitigate damage
|
| Ann Arbor Fire Department (AAFD) |
- Assume command of the incident in conjunction with UMPD
- Take any necessary action to:
- Rescue building occupants
- Extinguish the fire
- Preserve the contents of the building
- At the conclusion of the incident, the AAFD will assist in evaluating the safety of the building and determining if the building can be reoccupied
|
