Fire and Building Safety

In the event that anyone sees a fire or smells smoke inside a building, go to your nearest pull station - pull it and evacuate building.  Fires grow quickly endangering the lives of the building occupants so if you see a small fire please activate the alarm system.  Building occupants should familiarize themselves with the fire protection systems such as pull stations, fire extinguishers, and exits.

Once the fire alarm system is activated and you are at a safe zone usually 300 feet away from burning building, call 911 immediately.  Give dispatcher the name and location of burning building.  Please try to remain calm when talking with dispatcher this way dispatcher can understand you clearly.  FGCU University Police Department will contact the San Carlos Fire Department.

Portable extinguishers located inside buildings are to help building occupants get out of a potentially dangerous situation or to put out a fire that is small usually the size of a small waste paper basket.  Anything bigger than that, we strongly recommend that you activate the fire alarm system and evacuate the building. 

Our primary concern is to evacuate everyone from a burning building in a orderly fashion. To accomplish this, building occupants must be prepared in advance that is why we have fire drills annually to educate the building occupants and to test the fire protection equipment.  So, when the fire alarm sounds, immediate evacuation is mandatory.

In the event you are in a room with a closed door and the fire alarm sounds, do not immediately open the door. You must first determine if door is hot, if hot, remain in room until fire fighters get to you and evacuate you from room.  Stuff towels, sheets or other material under the door to keep smoke out. 

If you are able to exit the building, make sure that you leave lights on and shut door behind as you leave room or hallway doors. 

Never use elevators in buildings when fire alarm system is activated.

Once outside, move a reasonable distance as taught in fire drills.  The fire department needs space in order to extinguish fire, so being at a safe zone is required. NEVER RE-ENTER A BURNING BUILDING.  Stay outside until you are told to re-enter building by fire department or university officials.

It is recommended that the University Community contact Adaptive Services to notify them of your schedule and to alert them of your location, this way in the event of an emergency, fire fighters know your location. 

When the fire alarm activates and you are unable to make your way down stairs obtain assistance from others, if they are able to help you in case of an emergency. If others can't help in the event of an emergency, remain in stairwell or exterior landings and ask them to notify fire fighters of your location and that you need immediate rescue.  The stairwells or exterior landings are called areas of refuge these areas are designed to provide protection from smoke and fire, moreover, you must keep the stairwell doors and doors leading to the outside public ways closed as well.

If you are unable to make your way to stairwell or area of refuge and fire alarm is not activated; ask several individuals to activate the fire alarm on your floor.  This will alert the fire fighters rescue team by illuminating the light on the annunciator panel for your building.  Again, if able, go to a room and close door behind you and tell everyone that you see to let fire fighters know your whereabouts in building. 

Fire produces smoke, so when smoke invades upper space first, most of the available oxygen is near the floor. If smoke becomes too dense to breathe, position yourself so that your face is close to the floor and try to place clothing or other heavy material over your nose and mouth to filter as much smoke as possible until help arrives.  Response time for the San Carlos Fire Department is less than five minutes. 

Unapproved appliances which produce exposed elements or open flames such as Coleman stoves, candles, gas lanterns, hibachi grills, torches, or oil lamps are prohibited in all FGCU properties.

During the month of January, Environmental Health and Safety and University Police conduct fire drills in every campus building.

Per Florida Fire Prevention Code NFPA 1, 10.6.1 and Florida Fire Prevention Code NFPA 101, 4.7.1, Florida Gulf Coast University conducts fire drills annually, during the month of January, in owned and leased buildings at our main campus and off campus locations.

Building occupants must vacate the building in an orderly fashion when the fire alarm signal is given and not return to the building until EH&S or UPD gives the "all-clear" verbal notification to re-enter the building. No prior notification shall be given to any specific building as to a specific date and time.

Thank you for your help in maintaining a safe and healthy environment for us all. If you have any questions or concerns, please call EH&S at 590-1126 or 590-1414.

Every year EH&S and San Carlos Fire Department offer fire extinguisher training in order to comply with the Florida Fire Prevention Code. 

Fire extinguishers are located at noticeable areas in every building at FGCU, with the exception of some sheds. In some buildings fire extinguishers are in locked extinguisher cabinets that require the user to pull handle firmly.

Fire extinguishers are physically inspected monthly by an EH&S inspector.

Fire extinguishers are maintained and recharged annually by a certified vendor.

Note:  It's against the law to tamper with or discharge a fire extinguisher in any manner not consistent with its intended use.

Where are they located?  Fire extinguishers are located at noticeable areas in every building at FGCU, with the exception of some sheds. In some buildings where students are occupants fire extinguishers are in locked extinguisher cabinets that require the user to pull handle firmly (don't worry about damaging hardware..it's easily replaceable).

How often are the extinguishers inspected and maintained?  Fire extinguishers are physically inspected monthly by the EH&S inspector. It's a very detailed inspection which includes, the date of annual maintenance, looking at the pressure needle ensuring that it's in the green zone, safety seals and tamper indicator are not broken or missing, and other criteria found in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 10 - Std. for Portable Fire Extinguishers.

Fire extinguishers are maintenanced and recharged annually by a certified vendor.  Every six years, there are internal and external checks performed, with a full hydrostatic (pressure) test occurring every 12 years for most extinguishers.

What are the types of fire extinguishers? Take a look at this pamphlet.

Is there fire extinguisher training?  Yes, training is offered every year in the month of December.  Fire extinguisher training is also offered to students and faculty. The training is free and takes approximately one hour to complete (of course, it depends on attendance) during training you will watch a video on fire extinguishers and than proceed outside to extinguish a live fire. Faculty, if interested in fire extinguisher training for your class please contact us at 590-1414.

Note:  It's against the law to tamper with or discharge a fire extinguisher in any manner not consistent with its intended use.

The Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS)

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Fire Extinguisher Training.com- Learn all about fire extinguishers and the P.A.S.S. system

2015 Campus Fire Safety Resolution

NFPA Fact Sheet on Smoke Alarms

NFPA What You Should Know About Smoke Alarms

Timed Fire Drill Report - 2022 

Timed Fire Drill Report - 2021

Timed Fire Drill Report - 2020

Timed Fire Drill Report - 2019

Timed Fire Drill Report - 2018

Timed Fire Drill Report - 2017

Timed Fire Drill Report - 2016