Fire & Life Safety

Knowing general fire safety tips and practices can help ensure you and the university is safe from a fire emergency. Here are a few fire safety tips you should know:

• Eliminate fire hazards by keeping your workspace and resident free of combustible waste build-up.
• Ensure you know two ways out and your evacuation plan
• Keep all pathways to an exit and out of a building free of items that could create a tripping hazard or becoming trapped.
• Ensure you have a working smoke detector in your place of residents
• Keep all combustible materials away from heating sources.
• Inspect and use only electrical components that are in good condition and use as directed.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets and strips.
• Follow safe cooking practices.
• Know where fire extinguishers are located and how to use them.
• If the fire alarm activates, leave immediately.
• Do not use open flames.
• Follow all Georgia Southern fire and life safety guidelines 

For more fire safety tips and practices, please check out the presentation below.

Cooking fires are the primary cause of residential fires and injuries with two-thirds of all residential fires starting in the kitchen.  It’s a necessary task that we all do and most daily.  Here are some cooking safety reminders to help ensure a safe and positive outcome each time you are in the kitchen:

• Be alert and never cook when sleepy or under the influence
• Never leave food being cooked on a stovetop unattended and keep a close eye on foods inside ovens and microwaves
• Keep your cooking areas clean and free of combustible materials (i.e.. Potholders, towels, rags, drapes, packing, etc.) that could start a fire. This also includes food or combustible items that may accumulate underneath the stovetop burners
• Turn the pot handles inward so they can’t accidentally be knocked off
• Wear short, tight-fitting clothes or roll up the sleeves to prevent clothing from encountering heat sources
• Always follow the directions on the packaging of food being cooked
• If a fire occurs within an oven or microwave, keep the door closed, turn off the oven or unplug the microwave
• If a fire occurs on a stovetop, turn off the burner, smother the fire by using baking soda or lid and/or use a fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire if safe to do so
• If you need to use a fire extinguisher, remember the acronym P.A.S.S
  • P – Pull the pin
  • A – Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
  • S – Squeeze the handle
  • S – Sweep the nozzle slowly from side to side
• Never put water on a cooking fire as items like grease react with water and intensify the fire
• Should a fire occur, remember the lifesaving acronym R.A.C.E
  • R – Rescue occupants in immediate danger
  • A – Alert other occupants of the building by activating the buildings fire alarm system
  • C – Contain the fire by closing doors and windows on your way out
  • E – Extinguish or Evacuate
• Regardless if the fire is small or goes out, ALWAYS call 911 and activate the building’s fire alarm system. This ensures the fire department can check to ensure there is no hidden fire and allows other occupants early notification of an incident so they can safely exit the building

Most fire extinguishers on Georgia Southern campus are multipurpose, dry chemical units that are rated to be used on Class A, B and C fires.  Fire extinguishers are strategically located throughout all of our buildings, and you are never more than 75′ from one.  It is important to understand how a fire extinguisher works and how to properly use one to keep you and others safe as well as help minimize potential damages from a fire. Here are some useful tips if you ever need to use one.

• Classification of fire extinguishers
  • Class A – Ordinary combustibles such as wood and paper
  • Class B – Flammable liquids such as oil and gasoline
  • Class C- Electrical equipment such as computers
  • Class D – Combustible metals such as magnesium
  • Class K – Kitchen fires
• When selecting a fire extinguisher make sure the class rating is compatible to the materials burning
• Always check to make sure the extinguisher is fully charged which can be done by ensuring the arrow in the gauge near the handle is in the green or full section.
• When using a fire extinguisher make sure you can exit the building safely and start approximately 6′ away from the fire.  Begin extinguishing the fire utilizing the P.A.S.S method:
  • P – Pull the pin
  • A – Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
  • S – Squeeze the handle
  • S – Sweep the nozzle slowly from side to side at the base of the fire
  • If you use a fire extinguisher, follow the RACE (Rescue, Alert, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate) method and after the incident notify emergency responders as well as input a work order through the TMA system to have a new extinguisher installed.

Fire alarm systems are designed to provide you with early notification of a fire emergency. This early notification gives you time to safely exit a building. Here are a few tips to ensure you make it safely out of a building:

Never ignore the alarm, assume the alarm is false or it’s a drill. Treat every fire alarm as an actual emergency. Just because you do not see flames or smell smoke does not mean one is not occurring.
When the fire alarm sounds, everyone must immediately evacuate the building using the closest and safest exit.
During your evacuation, never use the elevators and do not run or panic.
Once you have safely made it outside, go directly to the buildings designated meeting area(s) and check in. This helps us ensure everyone is out.
Never re-enter the building once out unless told to do so by emergency personnel.
Ensure you know your department and buildings emergency evacuation plan and you study/practice it often.
For tips on creating an emergency evacuation and things to consider when doing so check out the following presentation.

1. What should I do if I notice a fire safety violation on campus or have a fire safety concern?
   • If you notice a fire safety violation on campus or have a safety concern you can contact the Division of Fire and Life Safety at 912-478-5234, email the Fire and Life Safety Director or submit a work order request through the University’s TMA system.
2. Who should I call in the event of a fire emergency?
   • For any fire incident, always call 9-1-1.
3. What should I do if a small fire happens?
   • Follow the RACE method and make sure emergency personnel respond.  Always notify emergency personnel for any incident regardless of if the fire goes out. This is to ensure your safety as well as others in the building.

1. Can I have and use fireworks?
   • Georgia Law allows for consumer based fireworks but Georgia Southern does not allow for the use of or storage of any fireworks/pyrotechnics on university property. 

1. How do I operate a fire extinguisher?
   • Remember the acronym P.A.S.S
     •  P – Pull the pin 
     • A – Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
     • S – Squeeze the handle
     • S – Sweep the nozzle slowly from side to side
2. What should I do if I discover a fire?
   • Remember the acronym R.A.C.E
     • R – Rescue yourself and anyone in immediate danger
     • A – Alert occupants and emergency responders by activating the building’s fire alarm system and calling 911
     • C – Contain the spread of fire and smoke by closing all doors and windows behind you as you leave
     • E – Extinguisher the fire using a portable fire extinguisher if you are trained and feel comfortable or evacuate the building
3. Can I have a candle in my work space?
   • No. Candles are not allowed in any university building. The only exception is for special events once an open flame permit has been approved.
4. Can I have a portable space heater?
   • Portable space heaters are not recommended for use and cannot be used in buildings that are classified as apartments, assemblies, day-cares, dormitories, or high hazard areas by code. If you need a space heater and do not work/reside in a restricted occupancy classification, first contact the Division of Facilities Services to see if mechanical changes can be made. If mechanical changes do not meet your needs, contact your supervisor/dean/chair and see if you can be relocated to another area. If these options fail to meet the needs you can submit an portable space heater request at https://ww2.georgiasouthern.edu/finops/publicsafety/fire-safety/fire-safety-permits/. 
5. Can I use an extension cord?
   • Extension cords are only allowed for temporary use which is less than 8 hours a day and less than 30 days in length. Extension cords must be listed by an approved agency such as UL or ETL, used correctly, and be rated for the use and environment. Extension cords cannot be run through walls, ceilings, under doors/rugs, create a tripping hazard or obstruct any fire and life safety feature. 
6. Is it ok to store items in a stairwell?
   • No. Storage of any kind is not allowed in stairwells by code. This means nothing can be on the stair, on the landings or underneath the stairs.
7. Can I hang posters or flyers in stairwells?
   • No. A stairwell is a safe means of exiting and no combustibles can be within the area. 
8. Can I store/hang items up to and from the ceiling?
   • No. Code requires a minimum of 18″ clear space all the way around a room/area from the bottom of a sprinkler head. Non-sprinkled buildings require a minimum of 24″ from the ceiling. Hanging items from the ceiling can also create an obstruction to the sprinkler head preventing proper water dispersion. 

1. Do I need a permit to have an open flame on campus?
   • Yes. Before any open flame event on university property, a open flame permit request should be requested.
2. What types of events require a permit?
   • Grilling (except for designated cooking areas protected by a hood suppression system such as in kitchens)
   • Candle use (candles are not allowed in university property except for special events)
   • Sterno can use
   • Hot work activates
   • Portable space heater use
   • Pyrotechnics
   • Anything using an open flame

1. Are Christmas trees allowed in university buildings?
   • Natural trees and vegetation are not allowed on campus per code. Artificial trees are allowed but they must be located in common areas only (lobbies, reception areas, etc…), cannot obstruct exits, paths to exits, fire extinguishers, components of the fire alarm and sprinkler systems, or AED’s. Christmas trees and other decorative materials such as wreaths must also meet the flame propagation criteria of NFPA 701.
2. Can decorative lights such as strands on a Christmas tree be used?
   1. Decorative lighting can be used if they are listed by an approved agency such as UL or ETL and are not constructed entirely of metal. Lighting must be properly installed, secured, and cannot obstruct any means of egress or fire protection device/system. Any lighting must be unplugged prior to the area being vacant.

1. How can I schedule fire safety training for my building/residents?
   • In-person fire safety training can be scheduled by contacting the University’s Fire and Life Safety Division. We offer a wide range of trainings and can tailor them to meet your needs. 
2. Who should have fire safety training?
   • EVERYONE! Everyone should have annual fire safety training ranging from general fire safety, fire extinguisher usage and emergency evacuation.