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UW Emergency Management

Fire

Before

  1. Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home and in each bedroom. Test them twice a year. Audible alarms are available for visually impaired people and smoke alarms with a vibrating pad or flashing light are available for the hearing impaired.
  2. Make a fire escape plan and practice getting out in under 2 minutes.
  3. When you’re cooking, stay in the kitchen. Most cooking fires start when someone has left the kitchen while cooking something on the stove. If there’s a grease fire, cover the fire with a lid or use a fire extinguisher; do not use water.
  4. Know the location of the closest fire extinguisher and how to use it. Take the UW Environmental Health & Safety online fire extinguisher training class. Or watch a Seattle Fire Department video about using a fire extinguisher.

During

  1. Pull the nearest fire alarm and call 911. On campus, the fire alarm automatically notifies the fire department. If you hear the building fire alarm, take it seriously. Every second delayed wastes valuable time needed to escape.
  2. Evacuate the building using the nearest and safest exit.
    • Close the door behind you.
    • Always use stairs, not elevators.
    • Assist others who may need help evacuating — review evacuation guidance for individuals with disabilities.
    • If there is smoke, crawl and keep your head low.
    • If you are unable to use exit stairs, find a safe location to wait for assistance from firefighters.
  3. If there is no safe exit:
    • Put a towel or other material under the door to prevent smoke from entering the room.
    • If you are trapped by smoke, stay low, cover your mouth with a wet cloth, stay near a window and open it, but do not break it. Hang something out the window to let fire personnel know you are there. Call 911 if possible.
  4. If your clothes catch fire stop, drop and roll
  5. Inform the fire department if anyone is trapped or injured inside. Do not go back inside for anything or anyone.
  6. Do not re-enter the building unless authorized by emergency personnel.

For additional information on fires, see the EH&S website.