The University of Western Ontario Fire Safety and Emergency Management has instituted a new initiative that allows occupants to re-enter buildings when fire alarms stop ringing.
There are 500 volunteer Building Emergency Team (BET) members and Building Emergency Co-ordinators on campus assisting with fire and emergency evacuations. However, Western Fire Safety Supervisor Frank Faroni says some areas in larger buildings are not covered by a BET representative. In such cases, occupants may wait outside the building for 10-15 minutes after fire officials have given the green light to re-enter.
“I know it was frustrating for them,” he says, noting it was difficult to get runners to spread the word to all of the exits that the building evacuation had ended.
Based on such feedback, Western’s Fire Safety and Emergency Management developed a system for notifying those who were left out in the cold.
Under the new policy, the alarms will stop ringing as soon as the fire department on scene has determined the buildings are safe. This way, areas not covered by the BET members will have an indicator for when it is OK to go back inside.
“As long as the bells are ringing, people are supposed to stay out. When the BETs notice the signal stops, either bells or horns or strobes (lights), they can give the all-clear to the occupants to come back in.
“Should something happen and we need to get people out, we can always restart the bells or horns,” he adds. “We are hoping to make it easier for people.”
Faroni reminds the Western community to follow the directions of the BET members during a fire alarm. This new initiative will apply to all buildings except traditional residences and is effective immediately.
Anyone with questions or concerns about the new policy can e-mail firesafety@uwo.ca.