Fire Prevention and Evacuation

York Security 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 Residence Life Staff right away.

If you are trained and feel comfortable extinguishing a small fire, then you may use the fire extinguishers provided in each Common Room or suite. If you are not comfortable with assisting or the fire is large, then activate the fire alarm pull station and evacuate the building. If you’ve used an extinguisher, remember to report it to your Don so that it can be serviced or refilled.

• 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 a Residence Life or Security Services 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.
• 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 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, the Residence Occupancy Agreement outlines obligations for fire safety.

Cooking and kitchen appliances (excluding a small compact refrigerator) are not permitted in residence rooms. Kitchen appliances provided in suites and common areas must be used in a safe and responsible manner.

All residents and guest(s) are required to exit in the event of a fire alarm and to follow the instructions of Fire Services personnel. Penalties will be imposed for the misuses of any fire equipment, tampering with fire safety devices, and/or causing fire alarms due to negligence or malicious intent.