The earliest memory of fire drills that most people have coincides with: Stop, drop and roll!

The practice of drills is to prepare you in the event of an actual fire or another emergency that would create a need for evacuating the building.

Fire drills are conducted in every residence hall on campus each semester prior to the eleventh day of classes. These drills allow the staff to check the operation of all safety equipment including strobe lights, sound bases, emergency doors and elevator functions. Students are notified of the drill at least 24 hours in advance. Fire drills ensure that students are safe and know the proper evacuation procedures as well as ensuring our life safety equipment is effective.

It is your responsibility as a student to participate in the fire drill or evacuate the building when you hear the fire alarm. Once the fire alarm sounds, you should immediately go to the nearest exit.

A resident assistant will be stationed at each exit to direct residents to their building’s rally points. It is important to stay at least fifty feet away from the building and not block any fire lanes.

Not evacuating a building during a fire drill or alarm can result in conduct violations and sanctions. It is never safe to return to a building until it has been cleared by University of Arkansas police official(s) who will consult with the responding Fayetteville Fire Station.

FIRE RELATED SAFETY TIPS

  1. In case of a fire—Plan and practice two escape routes out of the building. If your clothes catch on fire, you should immediately stop, drop and roll! If you must past through smoke to escape, get as low to the ground as you can and try to crawl to safety.
  2. Never leave cooking unattended. Do not put papers, boxes, plastic or anything other than cookware on gas/electric burners. Many fires start from overheated grease as the high temperatures can cause the grease to burst into flames. If this happens, use caution to place a lid on the pot to smother the flames. Never use water on grease or electrical fires. Never put foil or metal in microwave ovens.
  3. Candles are not permitted in the residence halls, regardless of whether the wick is burnt or not. In emergencies, it is a better idea to use a flashlight for lighting as they are more dependable and safer.
  4. Get and maintain renters’ insurance. The University of Arkansas and University Housing are not responsible for any loss or damage to a students’ personal property for any cause or reason. It is important to know what items are covered under parent or guardian’s insurance. Getting renters’ insurance is considered a great value and protection for property when living in community dwellings.