A fire alarm on a wall in a building.

Never Assume It’s Just a Drill

A fire alarm on a wall of a building.
Treat all fire alarms seriously.

Fire alarms are no joke.

When a fire alarm sounds, you should evacuate and move a safe distance away from the building until you are told it’s safe to reenter. Never assume a fire alarm is a false alarm, just a drill or someone who left popcorn in the microwave too long.

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety conducts required testing of fire alarm systems in all campus buildings annually. Fire alarms in housing facilities are tested four times each year with one drill being conducted either before sunrise or after sunset. Evacuation during these drills is required.

Whether you live on or off campus, here are some fire safety tips that you should keep in mind:

  • Have an exit plan for your home, apartment or residence hall. If you live off campus, have a fire escape plan with two ways out of every room.
  • If you live off campus, make sure your apartment or home has working smoke detectors installed outside and inside each bedroom and on each level.
  • Test smoke alarms monthly. The Office of Environmental Health and Safety conducts monthly inspections of smoke alarms in all rooms in residence halls.
  • Never store items in exit stairwells or pathways.
  • Never hang anything from fire sprinkler heads.
  • Stay in the kitchen when cooking and only cook when you are alert and not sleepy from alcohol or medicine.
  • Check with your apartment complex before using grills.
  • Candles are not allowed in campus buildings. If you use a candle in an off campus apartment or home, never leave it unattended. Blow it out when you leave the room or go to sleep.
  • Never use extension cords in place of permanent power.

If you are planning to rent an off-campus apartment or house for the 2022-2023 academic year, ask the landlord if you can see the property before you sign the least to make sure the residence has working smoke alarms, fire sprinklers, two exits from each room, windows and doors that open easily and the electrical demands to handle all of your electronic devices.

Learn what to do if you discover a fire.

Safety Reminder: UA Alert System Test:

Weather permitting, the University will test its emergency notification systems, including UA Alerts, the public address system and digital signage, Wednesday, April 6, at 11:55 a.m.