University of Maryland, Baltimore

FIRE EVACUATION PLAN

110 SOUTH PACA STREET

MRI Suite, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Floors

POLICE - 410-706-6882
FIRE - 9-911
MEDICAL EMERGENCY - 9-911

Anyone discovering excessive heat, smoke, or fire inside your building will immediately sound an alarm and report the conditions by the following methods:

                   1. Manual Fire Alarm Pull Station Located Near Exits

                   2. Telephone the Baltimore City Fire Department - 9-911

                   3.  Telephone University Police - 410-706-6882

                   4.  Telephone Guard Desk 8-2200

                   5.  Telephone Building Manager 8-2104

Smoke or fire appearing outside a building viewed from the inside of the building by means of a buildings windows or doors should be reported by the following methods:

                    1.  Telephone the Baltimore City Fire Department - 9-911

                    2.  Telephone University Police - 410-706-6882

                    3.  Telephone Guard Desk 8-2200

                    4.  Telephone Building Manager 8-2104

Mulch fires, trash can fires, or other fire outside a building should be reported by the following methods:

                     1.  Telephone the Baltimore City Fire Department 9- 911

                     2.  Telephone University Police - 410-706-6882

                     3.  Telephone Guard Desk 8-2200

                     4.  Telephone Building Manager 8-2104

Questions concerning fire alarm reporting or building evacuation should be directed to the University Fire Marshal at rburke@af.umaryland.edu or call 410-706-3494.

FIRE EVACUATION PLAN

INTRODUCTION

This evacuation plan establishes methods and procedures to be used in the event of a fire at 110 South Paca Street MRI Suite, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th floors. The emergency procedures outlined in this plan should be utilized during fires, and other emergencies. This plan deals primarily with fire emergencies. However, the same procedures and responsibilities would apply to other emergencies with appropriate variations. Faculty, staff, students, contractors, and visitors are expected to comply with the procedures contained herein.   All building occupants shall begin immediate evacuation of the building upon activation of the buildings fire alarm system.

FIRE DRILLS

Fire drills shall be arranged, conducted, and supervised by the UMMS building management of the 110 South Paca Street Building.  Baltimore City Fire Regulations require that at least one drill per year in a high-rise building such as the 110 South Paca Street Building be supervised by the fire department.

FIRE ALARMS

The 110 South Paca Street building is a 9 story high-rise building with a basement and is equipped with a complete manual/automatic voice fire alarm system.

All fires, even if extinguished or found extinguished, must be reported to the fire department. Fires, smoke or smell of smoke shall be reported by the following methods:

  1. Manual fire alarm pull stations, located near exits.
  2. Notification of the Baltimore City Fire Department: telephone number 9- 911.
  3. Notification of University Police at 410-706-6882.
  4. When reporting a fire by telephone, give all of the following information:

     

    • Name of person making call,
    • Location of emergency - building name, floor, and room number,
    • People injured, trapped, or disabled, if any.

    4.  Remain on telephone until message is confirmed. 

BUILDING EVACUATION ASSIGNMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

FIRE WARDENS

 When an alarm sounds, Wardens have the following responsibilities:

  1. Telephone University Police 410-706-6882 and notify them of the fire alarm.
  2. Conduct an orderly evacuation of their immediate area by directing occupants to the nearest unobstructed fire exit. ELEVATORS SHOULD NOT BE USED.
  3. When it appears that the floor evacuation is nearly complete the Warden, if they choose to do so, will enlist the aid of an untrained volunteer to conduct a search of their immediate floor to determine that all individuals have exited the area. For safety, the Warden and the volunteer (if present) will search as a team at all times. They will proceed from one fire exit to another until one of the following conditions have been met:
  • The entire floor or assigned area has been searched.
  • They encounter another search team and determine that the entire floor has been searched.
  • They encounter an unsafe condition requiring them to return to a previous fire exit.

When one of these conditions has been met, the Warden and volunteer will leave the floor via the nearest fire exit. The Warden will proceed to the buildings guard desk on the first floor and report the fire location, if known, the condition of the floor’s fire exits and stairwells, any persons who refused to evacuate and the location of any disabled persons. 

OCCUPANT EVACUATION PROCEDURES

Evacuation Instructions for Persons Requiring Assistance

Because of potential danger to occupants Elevators should not be used during fires or when the fire alarm is activated.  Fire wardens are responsible for assisting and reporting locations of disabled persons in Areas of Rescue Assistance (Elevator Lobbies).   The 110 South Paca Street Building is equipped with automatic sprinkler systems throughout designed to contain a fire or extinguish it before firefighters arrive.  Disabled persons or others requiring assistance will remain in Areas of Rescue Assistance (elevator lobbies) until fire department personnel can assist them in evacuating the building or the all clear is given for them to return to their work stations. The University of Maryland utilizes a “Buddy System” to provide evacuation assistance for persons requiring assistance during an evacuation.  The person requiring assistance is responsible for identifying a “Buddy” and a back-up “Buddy” that will assist them during an evacuation.  A volunteer “Buddy” should remain in the Area of Rescue Assistance with the disabled person until fire department assistance arrives or the all clear is given.  Do not re-enter the building from the Area of Rescue Assistance until expressly directed to do so by the fire office in charge, building management or a fire warden from your floor.

A non-teaching faculty or staff member is responsible for identifying and relating the type of assistance he/she requires in the event of an emergency to their supervisor and the fire wardens on the floor where they are assigned. The supervisor is responsible for notifying building management 8-2104. They should seek someone in their work area to assist them during an evacuation (“Buddy System”). 

Visitors to the MRI Suite, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th floors of 110 South Paca Street MRI Building who require rescue assistance during an emergency are responsible for making those needs known to the person or department they are visiting.  That person or department is responsible for notifying the fire wardens of the persons need for rescue assistance.  The person or department visited are responsible for providing a “Buddy” to assist the visitor during an evacuation and remain with that person until fire department assistance arrives or the all clear is given. 

General Evacuation Procedures

If a fire is detected or the fire alarm sounds, evacuate the area, and follow the instructions given by the buildings Fire Wardens. Isolate the fire by closing doors as you leave. Do not attempt to extinguish fires unless you have been trained on the proper use of portable fire extinguishers. (Do not attempt to extinguish a fire unless the building fire alarm system has been activated).  Activate the nearest fire alarm, if it has not already been activated. Report the fire via telephone (9-911) from a safe location. Upon hearing a fire alarm in your building, evacuate the building by marked stairs and exits, DO NOT USE ELEVATORS.  No one should call the security guard or anyone else to verify if an alarm is "Real".  All alarms should be considered real and an immediate evacuation should begin when the alarm sounds.  Once outside the building stay out and move away from the building to designated assembly areas for employees to clear access for the fire department and other emergency responders.  Do not reenter the building until the all clear is given by the fire officer in charge. Employee assembly areas are located as follows:  Main Entrance: North on Paca Street.  Do not cross Paca Street without police assistance.  West Entrance: Proceed to Pratt Street, then proceed to Greene Street.  Do not cross Greene Street without police assistance.

SAFE FIRE EVACUATION PRACTICES

  1. Never use the elevators for evacuation of the building.
  2. 110 South Paca Street Building is considered a high-rise building and is fully sprinkled.  The fire alarm is programmed to sound an alarm throughout the building when activated. 
  3. There are 2 exits from each  floor of the 110 South Paca Street Building.  These exits are provided through enclosed stairwells located in the center "core" of the building in the elevator lobbies.  Both exits discharge into the building lobby where there are exits to the outside to the East (main entrance) and to the West.  All exits are clearly marked by illuminated exit signs.  DO NOT EXIT INTO OTHER FLOORS as that may be where the emergency exists and you could place yourself in danger.
  4. Evacuate in an orderly manner - don’t panic. Walk, don’t run.
  5. In case of fire, activate the fire alarm before attempting to extinguish it. Only consider attempting to extinguish a fire if it very minor and you have been trained in the proper operation and use of portable fire extinguishers.
  6. Obey the directions of your building Fire Wardens and emergency response officials.
  7. When exiting stay in single file in the stairways, as fire department personnel may be coming up the same stairway to investigate or fight the fire.
  8. Before opening any door of a room or office that leads to the main hallway feel the door first to see if it is hot. If the door is not hot, open it slowly. Then if conditions allow, proceed to the nearest stairway and follow the evacuation plan. If smoke is near the ceiling you may be able to crawl under the smoke to reach the exit stairwell, keeping your face near the floor where air will be breathable.  If smoke is too heavy, do not enter a hallway.
  9. If all exits from a floor are blocked, return to your work area and use the following procedure. Close the door, place a towel or article of clothing along the bottom edge of the door. Open the windows for fresh air and hang an article of clothing or other similar article, out the window to let the fire department know you are still in there. If the window can not be opened, DO NOT BREAK the glass.
  10. If, for any reason, you must remain in a room or office during a fire or other emergency, remain calm, call 9-911 and advise of your location and situation and wait for the fire department to assist you.

DAILY FIRE SAFETY PRACTICES

Every employee, faculty member and student is responsible for assisting in maintaining an environment within the University of Maryland, Baltimore that is free of fire and evacuation hazards. The following information will help ensure fire prevention and safe evacuations from UMB buildings.

  1. Respect the NO SMOKING policy within all University buildings including exit stairwells.
  2. Don’t use candles in University Buildings under any circumstances.
  3. Don’t use halogen lights in University Buildings.
  4. Keep all exit corridors free of combustible storage and maintain a clear 44" minimum width in all business corridors.  This will also allow for safe access to the fire area by firefighters.
  5. Become familiar with all exit locations and fire evacuation routes within your assigned area(s) of the building.
  6. Participate in fire drills so that you become familiar with proper procedures in case of an emergency.
  7. Do not prop open fire and smoke doors. These doors are designed to restrict the movement of fire and smoke within a building so that occupants can evacuate safely during an actual emergency.
  8. Report any unsafe condition within your building or any safety equipment that is not functioning properly, such as:

·         Locked exit doors

·         Blocked corridors

·         Combustible storage in corridors

·         Flammable liquid or hazardous materials stored in corridors

·         Burned out exit lights or signs

·         Emergency lighting not working

·         Fire alarm components not functioning

·         Extension cords in use

·         Multi-plug electric adapters in use

·         Electrical equipment not working properly

·         Frequent tripping of circuit breakers

These conditions should be reported ASAP to Building Management.

Revised 5-30-2007