York Security, Emergency Response Wardens and Residence Life Staff will direct and assist residents with the evacuation until Toronto Fire Services arrive. If you have information about someone remaining in the building, please pass the information on to Security Services or the Emergency Response Warden right away. The ERW can be identified by the orange or yellow safety vest they will be wearing.

• Close the door behind you but do not lock it.
• Alert others to leave with you on your way to the nearest fire exit.
• Activate the nearest fire alarm pull station.
• Leave the building using the nearest stairs and exit.
• Help those who require assistance exit the building, if you can do so safely.
• Advise an Emergency Response Warden, Residence Life or Security staff member of the location of the fire.

If the fire alarm sounds, you must leave your residence immediately:

• Before leaving, check the door for heat; if hot to the touch, do not open. Use available materials like wet clothing or sheets to seal door cracks or clearances.
• If smoke is present, cover your mouth and nose and stay close to the floor.
• If your residence door is not hot and smoke is not present, exit then lock your door and leave by the nearest stairs or exit route.
• Do not use the elevator. Elevators are reserved for fire fighters.
• If smoke is encountered, use alternate stairs or return to your room/suite.
• Emergency Response Wardens and designated Residence Life Staff will assist with notifying residents and evacuation.
• Do not re-enter the building until permitted to do so by an authorized official.
• Ask your Don for clarification on any Fire Evacuation Procedures.

Students who have a temporary or permanent disability that may require special assistance during an emergency evacuation should register with Student Accessibility Services.

• Residents who need assistance to evacuate the building should, in their best interest, inform their Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) and Housing prior to any emergency for pre-planned assistance.
• Housing will address special needs in their accommodations, where available. The RLC will assist to develop an evacuation plan and inform emergency personnel.
• If you, as an able bodied resident, encounter a student who has mobility issues during the evacuation process, do your best to assist that student without putting you, the student or both you and the student in more danger. Always alert Emergency Services in the event you see a student unable to reach safety.

Your Undergraduate Residence Occupancy Agreement requires you to abide by the following fire prevention measures:

• No candles, incense, fog machine or open flames permitted.
• No explosives or fireworks permitted.
• No decorating and/or posting on exterior surfaces, windows or hallway space, including room/suite door (i.e. flammable decorations hanging in hallway). Only white boards obtained from Housing are allowed on room doors.
• No propping fire doors open.
• No cooking appliances in rooms (unless they are approved appliances for suites).
• No cooking in kitchenettes; they are for snack preparation only.
• No smoking in residence, on balconies and/or outside areas close to entrances, windows or ventilation air intakes (must be nine metres away from building).
• Do not block entrances, exits or hallways. Ensure exits are unobstructed.
• Do not park in or block fire and emergency vehicle laneways.
• Do not tamper with or remove your smoke detector. If your smoke detector’s battery is low (it beeps all the time), please visit the Housing Office or Porter Station for a replacement.
• Inform a Don when fire extinguishers are discharged.
• Do not hang anything from fire sprinklers.
• Do not tamper with any fire alarm devices. Report any anomaly or concern to a Don and Housing.

As a reminder, your Undergraduate Residence Occupancy Agreement places obligations and fines for fire damage and false alarms:

Cooking: Cooking is not allowed in residence rooms. You may keep a small compact refrigerator in your room and rental information can be provided. Kitchen equipment that is provided in the common rooms of traditional residences where a meal plan is mandatory is a privilege and added convenience to the resident. Use of such equipment and space is to be limited to snack preparation or house events authorized by Residence Life Staff. It is the residents’ responsibility to keep kitchenettes/ kitchens clean. The privilege of cooking within Calumet, Bethune and Pond Road suites also entails a responsibility that cooking facilities be used in a safe manner and be kept clean. Residents should never leave cooking unattended.”  Section IV, Rules & Regulations #12

Liability for Damages: “You are financially liable for any damages to your residence room, residence common areas, furnishings and fixtures, and for any charges incurred by you or by your guests. Residents who cause damage in any way, including through fire, are personally liable for that damage and will be charged for the full costs of repairing that damage. You are liable for any damage caused to University property and any such damage shall be charged to you.” Section IV, Rules & Regulations #15

False Fire Alarms Repercussions: “Those who cause false fire alarms in residences through careless cooking or in any other way are subject to disciplinary action and may be subject to criminal prosecution and/or costs assessed against the University by the Fire Department. All residents must follow the Fire Safety Procedures that are outlined in their Residence Agreement.” Section IV, Rules & Regulations #17.d 

See Undergraduate Residence Occupancy Agreement