Whenever a fire alarm sounds, unless directed otherwise by Wittenberg Police and Security officers and/or personnel of the Springfield Fire Division, residents must evacuate the building until the cause of the alarm has been determined and may not reenter the building until approval has been given from Springfield Fire Division personnel or a Wittenberg Police and Security officer.

PULL THE FIRE ALARM AND EVACUATE THE BUILDING:

• Upon discovering a large, very smoky, or rapid-spreading fire, close the door to the room where the fire is located and immediately sound the building fire alarm by pulling the red alarm pull box and evacuate the building immediately and go to the designated assembly area.
• Floor Evacuation Plans are posted on each floor of every residence hall. Students who live in residence halls should familiarize themselves with the evacuation plan of their residence hall.
• Walk; do not run to the nearest stairway exit. Note: If the fire is small, you may be able to extinguish it with a fire extinguisher. Be sure you are using the proper extinguisher for the type of fire. When in doubt, evacuate.
• As soon as safely possible, call the Wittenberg University Police and Security Department at 1-937-327-6363. Give your name, department, and the location and nature of the fire. Even if you were able to extinguish the fire yourself, the incident must be reported to the University Police and Security Department.

CHECKLIST:

• Advise the police of the size and location of the fire.
• Police will notify the appropriate fire department and will respond to assist.
• DO NOT enter a building that is on fire.
• Advise the police if you know that someone is in the building.
• Always report any fire, even if it has been extinguished.
• Report vandalized or discharged fire extinguishers to University Police.
• Make sure you know what your building's fire alarm sounds like.
• Know your evacuation route (at least two exits).
• Close doors to help prevent the fire from spreading.
• Do not open doors if you suspect fire may be on the other side.
• Stay low to the floor and cover your mouth with a wet cloth to make breathing easier in smoky conditions.
• Never prop open or lock a fire exit.  University policy dictates that when a fire alarm sounds, the building will be evacuated for student safety.

ASSIST

• Alert people in the immediate area to begin evacuation. The alarm may not sound continuously. If the alarm stops, continue the evacuation. Warn others who may enter the building after the alarm stops.
• Assist disabled persons in exiting the building. If these persons are unable to use the stairs, assist them to a stairwell and notify a Wittenberg Police and Security officer or any firefighter where the person is located. If you are disabled, proceed to the nearest stairwell and remain there until help arrives. Notify evacuating personnel of your situation.
• Notify either police personnel or firefighters on the scene if you suspect someone may be trapped inside. Identify yourself as the person who reported the fire.
• In residential hall facilities, the resident assistants or resident directors should assist Emergency personnel in evacuating all residents and in checking rooms, lounges, bathrooms, etc. They will meet with all residents at a predetermined location outside the building to take roll, assess injuries, and receive approval from Springfield Fire Division personnel or the Wittenberg Police and Security officer(s) on the scene to reenter the building.

DESIGNATED ASSEMBLY AREAS

Resident Hall Students:

• Ferncliff - outside front entrance by parking spaces
• Myers - end of back driveway (north end)
• Firestine - outside front entrance (away from building)
• Woodlawn - sidewalk on Woodlawn
• Tower - back door of Tower
• Polis - front door of Tower
• New - Grass between the Student Center and the New Residence Hall

Administrative and Academic Buildings

Occupants in the following buildings should assembly at the NORTH side of the building.

Occupants in the following buildings should assembly at the WEST side of the building

• Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center
• Carnegie Hall
• Synod Hall
• Health, Physical Education and Recreation Center
• Koch Hall
• Physical Plant Building
• Benjamin Prince House (President's House)
• Recitation Hall
• Shouvlin Center
• Hollenbeck Hall
• Benham-Prince Student Center
• Thomas Library
• Chakeres Memorial Theatre
• Weaver Observatory
• Zimmerman Hall
• Edwards-Maurer Field
• Morris J. Knauss Greens Student Residences
• Sprecher Place Apartments
• William A. McClain Black Culture House
• Blair Hall
• Krieg Hall
• Matthies Honors House
• Student Development/Dietrich House
• Weaver Chapel
• Bayley-Diehl House
• Bayley Alumni House
• Keller Place Apartments

BUILDING EVACUATION - RELOCATION OF RESIDENTS

The Chapel is the relocation center for students who live in any residence hall and need to temporarily relocate to another building due to weather or other circumstances related to the emergency.

The Student Center, Library or other open campus buildings are back-up relocation sites and may serve as the primary site during regular business hours. University Police and Security will make this determination.

HOW TO EVACUATE A BURNING BUILDING

• Walk, do not run, to the nearest stairway exit.
• The last one out of the room should not lock the door, just close it. Locking the door hinders the fire department's search and rescue efforts
• NEVER, NEVER use elevators under any circumstances. may become inoperative due to the fire.
• Never enter a room that is smoke filled. Never enter a room if the top half of the door is warm to the touch.
• Stay low to avoid smoke and toxic gases. The best air is close to the floor, so crawl if necessary.
• If possible, cover your mouth and nose with a damp cloth to help you breathe.
• If you work in a building with multiple stories, a stairway will be your primary escape route. Most enclosed stairwells in buildings over two stories are "rated" enclosures and will provide you a safe means of exit; don't panic descend stairs slowly and carefully.
• Once in the stairwell, proceed down to the first floor. Never go up.
• Once outside the building, report to a predetermined area so that a head count can be taken.

WHAT TO DO IF TRAPPED IN A BURNING BUILDING

• If you're trying to escape a fire, never open a closed door without feeling it first. Use the back of your hand to prevent burning your palm. If the door is hot, try another exit. If none exists, seal the cracks around the doors and vents with anything available.
• If in a dorm room, use wet towels to seal the space under the door and prevent the entry of smoke. Cracks around the door can be sealed with masking tape if necessary.
• If trapped, look for a nearby phone and call the fire department, giving them your exact location.
• If breathing is difficult, try to ventilate the room.

WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE CATCHES ON FIRE

If you should catch on fire:

STOP - where you are

DROP - to the floor

ROLL - around on the floor

This will smother the flames, possibly saving your life.

Just remember to STOP, DROP and ROLL.

If a co-worker catches on fire, smother flames by grabbing a blanket or rug and wrapping them up in it. That could save them from serious burns or even death.

Setting off a false fire alarm jeopardizes the safety and welfare of students, other members of the Wittenberg community, as well as members of the Springfield community. Because of this, any student found in violation of this policy will be subject to suspension from Wittenberg University. Ohio law imposes strict penalties for false alarms made by persons 18 years of age or older, Section 2917.32A. Tampering with fire extinguishers, fire alarms or fire equipment is strictly forbidden.