Designated Assembly Area

In the event Fine Hall needs to be evacuated (e.g. due to a fire), our designated assembly area is in front of Peyton Hall. If the fire alarm sounds, evacuate the building immediately and proceed toward Peyton Hall鈥攄o not congregate directly outside the entrances to Fine Hall.

Fires

If you discover a fire:

  • Alert people in the area of the need to evacuate
  • Activate the nearest fire alarm
  • Call Public Safety at 911 once outside

If a building fire alarm is sounding or you receive notification of a fire emergency:

  • Feel the door or doorknob to the hallway with the back of your hand.听听If it feels hot, do not open it 鈥 the fire听may be on the other side of the door.听听If you are trapped, put a cloth or towel under the door to help prevent听the entry of smoke.听听Dial 911 and tell the Public Safety dispatcher your location and telephone number and that听you are trapped in the room and need rescue.听听Stay on the phone until instructed otherwise.
  • If the door is not hot, open it slowly.听听If the hallway is clear of smoke, walk to the nearest exit and evacuate via听the nearest stairwell to the street/grade level exit.
  • Close doors behind you.
  • Do not attempt to use elevators.听听Elevators are tied to the fire detection system and are not available to听occupants once the alarm sounds.
  • Assemble at the area designated in your departmental Emergency Action Plan (see above) and remain there听until instructed by Public Safety or the fire department that it is safe to re鈥恊nter the building.

Evacuation Procedures

Evacuate immediately unless you have specific emergency responsibilities designated in the Additional Duties section of this plan.听听After you have left the building, go to the designated assembly area and remain there.听听At the assembly point,听supervisors will account for personnel and notify the Emergency Coordinator or Public Safety if any personnel are听missing.听 听During an emergency, students and visitors who may not be familiar with this plan must be informed of the听requirement to evacuate.

Shelter in Place

During certain emergency situations, particularly chemical releases, radioactive material releases and some weather emergencies, you may be advised to 鈥淪helter in Place鈥 (e.g., remain inside) rather than evacuate听the building.听听听

  • Stay inside the building.
  • If possible, go to a room or corridor where there are no windows.听听In the event of a chemical release, go to an听above鈥恎round level of the building, since some chemicals are heavier than air and may seep into basements,听even if windows are closed.
  • Do not use elevators.
  • Shut and lock all windows and doors.听听听Locking can provide a tighter seal.
  • Turn off the heat, air conditioning or ventilation system, if you have local controls for these systems.听听Most听University buildings have ventilation systems controlled centrally by Facilities Engineering. 听
  • Close fireplace dampers.
  • Quickly locate supplies you may need, e.g., food, water, radio, etc. 听
  • If possible, monitor for additional information via the main University web page, radio (88.1, 97.5, 101.5, 103.3,听1350, 1450, 1490) or television for further instructions. 听
  • Do not call 911 unless you are reporting a life鈥恡hreatening situation. 听

Additional steps to be taken if materials are available:

  • In the event of a chemical, biological or radioactive material release requiring Shelter鈥恑n鈥怭lace, seal doors and听windows with duct tape and/or plastic sheeting, wet paper towels, etc.
  • Cover cracks under doors with damp towels.

When the 鈥渁ll clear鈥 is announced听听

  • Open windows and doors. 听
  • Turn on heating, air conditioning or ventilation system.
  • Await further instructions.

Persons with Disabilities

Planning for Assistance in an Evacuation

If you think you might need specialized assistance during an evacuation (e.g. a visual alarm device, identification of fire-exit stairwells, specialized evacuation equipment or alternative egress route planning) due to a medical condition or听disability, you may contact your emergency coordinator to arrange for a needs assessment.听 听 Self鈥恑dentification is听voluntary and confidential.听听All such requests and any special arrangements made will only be disclosed to Public Safety听and individuals who have a responsibility to assist under the plan.听 听 Remember that elevators are tied to the fire听detection system and are not available to occupants once a fire alarm sounds.

Evacuation Procedures

If you are alone at the time of a fire or emergency evacuation, notify Public Safety of your location by calling 911.听 听Proceed to the nearest fire鈥恊xit stairwell and wait on the听landing for assistance.听听To ensure that your location is known, tell an individual who is evacuating to notify Public Safety听at the designated assembly point of your location.听 听Members of Public Safety, the Princeton Fire Department or the听Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad will assist you from the building.听听

University Fire Emergency Policy and Procedure

In case of a fire emergency (A fire emergency is defined as (1) an uncontrolled fire or imminent fire hazard, (2) the presence of smoke or the odor of burning, (3)听the uncontrolled release of a flammable or combustible substance, or (4) a fire alarm sounding.), notify Public Safety immediately at 911.听听Public Safety has primary responsibility for听managing fire emergencies and summoning outside assistance when necessary.听听Unauthorized re鈥恊ntry into a building听during a fire emergency is not permitted.听听Violators of this policy are subject to University and state fire code sanctions.

Building occupants are not required to fight fires.听听Individuals who have been trained in the proper use of a fire听extinguisher and are confident in their ability to cope with the hazards of a fire may use a portable fire extinguisher to听fight small, incipient stage fires (no larger than a waste paper basket).听听Fire fighting efforts must be terminated when it听becomes obvious that there is risk of personal harm.

Each University Department must designate an Emergency Coordinator responsible for developing and maintaining a听departmental Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and training employees on all elements of the plan as well as any special听duties assigned specific individuals.听听During a fire emergency, only individuals designated in the EAP may remain in the听building to fulfill their responsibilities.听听All other occupants must immediately evacuate the building in accordance with听the departmental emergency action plan.

Training

The Emergency Coordinator is responsible for providing all new employees or other regular building occupants with听initial Emergency Action Plan training..听听All building occupants must be familiar with the contents of this plan and听retrained annually.听听The Emergency Coordinator is responsible for full dissemination of any changes to the plan following the annual review.

Fire extinguisher training and the arrangement of fire drills is available upon request through the University Fire Marshal听(8鈥6805).

Additional Information

Additional information on emergency action planning can be found on the

(Last Revised March 3, 2020)