2019 ANNUAL CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY REPORT FOR REPORTING YEAR 2018

INTRODUCTION

MSU publishes this Annual Fire Safety Report as part of its annual Clery Act/HEOA Compliance document, which contains information regarding fire safety practices, education and standards for the University. This report includes statistics concerning the number of fires, the cause of each fire, the number of injuries and deaths related to a fire, and the value of the property damage caused by a fire (see Fire Statistics later in this report).

In an effort to standardize the information an institution publishes on fire safety, the U.S. Department of Education requires all universities that maintain on-campus student housing facilities and receive U.S. Department of Education funding to publish an annual fire safety report, maintain a fire log, and report fire statistics to the Secretary of Education. The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is also posted on the Montana State University Residence Life website. Paper copies of the full report are available upon request at the Residence Life Office during business hours.

Federal Definition of Fire: Any instance of open flame or other burning in a place not intended to contain the burning or in an uncontrolled manner. Fire safety is essential in protecting a campus community from injuries, deaths, business interruption, and property damage resulting from fires.

On-Campus Student Housing: A student housing facility that is owned or controlled by the institution, or is located on property that is owned or controlled by the institution, and is within the reasonably contiguous geographic area that make up the campus.

FIRE REPORTING AND UNIVERSITY RESPONSE TO ARSON

If you suspect an active fire or witness evidence of a fire (singed paper on bulletin board, fire in trash can, etc.), please call 911 or the University Police Department located at the corner of 7th Ave. and Kagy Blvd., in the Roy Huffman Building or dial:

• For emergencies call 911
• Non-Emergencies call (406) 994-2121

MSU is required to annually disclose statistical data on all fires that occur in on- campus housing facilities. To report a non-emergency fire which has already been extinguished in on-campus housing call the MSU Fire Marshal at (406) 994-7583 or the Residence Life Office at (406) 994- 2661.

Arson is the act of maliciously, voluntarily, and willfully setting fire to the building, buildings, or other property within the building. Arson is a criminal offense and will be treated as such. Any acts or attempted acts of arson will result in disciplinary sanctions, up to and including suspension or expulsion from the university as well as criminal charges.

If you are not sure if Campus Police or the Fire Department has been contacted, call 911 or the University Police Department immediately. Make a difference, please call and report arson. Concerned citizens can (and should) report fires and/or arson.

UNIVERSITY FIRE MARSHAL

MSU’s Fire Marshal is Jake Zlomie. The Fire Marshal publishes an internal annual fire safety report that includes additional specific information about MSU’s ongoing fire safety efforts. For a copy of MSU’s most recent internal fire safety annual report, please email [email protected].

MSU’s Fire Marshal is the authority that has jurisdiction over fire and life safety across Bozeman campus and as part of his duties annually reviews MSU’s fire safety policies, evacuation plans, and oversees fire drills in MSU’s academic buildings. The Department of Residence Life oversees MSU’s fire safety efforts and drills in campus housing facilities.

UNIVERSITY FIRE SAFETY POLICIES

Smoking: Montana State University became a “tobacco- free” campus, effective August 1, 2012. Smoking is prohibited within the residence halls, academic buildings, public areas and student rooms. Smoking is prohibited in all Family & Graduate Housing Apartments and grounds.

Open Flames: Within the residence halls system, any type of open flame is prohibited. Within Family and Graduate Housing open flames are allowed when operated under safe conditions.

Use of Portable Electrical Appliances: Within the residence halls, hot plates, George Foreman Grills, and toaster ovens are not permitted. Other appliances are allowed provided there are no exposed heating elements. Within Family and Graduate Housing, standard household electrical appliances are allowed.

Candles: Burning candles in campus housing is prohibited (Residence Life Handbook)

Lamps: Halogen lamps, lava lamps, and space heaters are not allowed in the residence halls due to significant fire hazards. (Residence Hall Handbook) Incense - Burning of incense in the residence halls is strictly prohibited. (Residence Hall Handbook)

Family and Graduate Housing Fire Safety rules: Gasoline, kerosene, burning fluid, or other combustible or explosive materials are prohibited. Any condition that creates a fire hazard is prohibited and must be eliminated upon request of University Staff.

PROHIBITED ACTS

The following acts are prohibited in any University Housing and will result in disciplinary action and possible criminal charges:

1. Misuse of any fire equipment, including extinguishers, pipes, pull stations, smoke/heat detectors, hoses, exit signs, emergency lights, horns, alarms, bells, and doors;
2. starting fires or setting off false alarms;
3. failing to evacuate and/or hindering in the evacuation of others; and
4. the use of fire escapes during a “non- emergency” (Residence Hall Handbook)

FIRE EVACUATION PROCEDURES

Fire alarms alert community members of potential hazards, and community members are required to heed their warning and evacuate buildings immediately upon hearing a fire alarm in a facility. Use the nearest stairwell and/or exit to leave the building immediately. Community members should familiarize themselves with the exits in each building. Fire drills are mandatory and failure to participate in fire drill is subject to disciplinary action.

When a fire alarm is activated, the elevators in most buildings will recall automatically to a safe floor. Occupants should use the stairs to evacuate the building. If you are caught in an elevator, push the emergency phone button. The emergency phones in elevators on campus typically ring to 994-2121, MSU PD Dispatch or to a security desk.

Residence Life: Resident Advisors explain the evacuation procedures to residents at the first-floor meeting of each academic year, including discussion of evacuation plans posted at each floor exit door. Residents are directed to exit through the nearest safe exit route/stairwell, and are informed of the exterior hall meeting location for students. Students are required to evacuate any residence hall immediately upon the sound of an alarm and may not re-enter until authorized by University personnel.

During the alarm, front desk personnel document the fire alarm and evacuation progress. Residence Life Senior Staff members facilitate the fire panel and direct residence life staff during the alarm.

Residents are not permitted to re-enter until Residence Life staff, fire department personnel, and/or University Police give authorization.

Family and Graduate Housing: Tenants are instructed to evacuate their apartment and call 911 if they hear an alarm or see smoke or fire.

FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Procedures that Students and Employees Should Follow in Case of Fire

In these programs, procedures that students and employees should follow in case of a fire are reviewed and include the following:

Student Housing Evacuation Procedures In Case of a Fire

• If you hear the fire alarm immediately evacuate the building using the nearest available Do not attempt to fight a fire unless you have been trained to do so.
• Awaken any sleeping roommate or Prepare to evacuate by putting on shoes and coat if necessary. Feel the doorknob and the door. If they are hot, do not open the door. If they are cool, open slowly, if heat or heavy smoke rushes in, close the door immediately and remain inside.
• When leaving your room, be sure to take your key in case it is necessary to return to the room should conditions in the corridor Make sure to close the door tightly when evacuating.
• Resident life staff members who are present on their floors should facilitate the evacuation of their floor/section if When the alarm sounds shout (Example: there is an emergency in the building leave by the nearest exit) and knock on doors as they make their way to the nearest exit and out the building.

• When exiting in smoky conditions keep your hand on the wall and crawl to the nearest Always know more than one path out of your location and the number of doors between your room and the exit.
• DO NOT USE Elevator shafts may fill with smoke or the power may fail, leaving you trapped. Elevators have features that recall and deactivate the elevator during an alarm. Standing and waiting for an elevator wastes valuable time.
• Each resident should report to their assigned assembly Resident life staff should report to their assigned assembly area and make sure that students have cleared the building. Conduct

a head count and do not allow re-entry into the building until directed to do so by emergency personnel.

Residence Life

All residence halls are equipped with portable fire extinguishers and Resident Advisors attend and complete fire extinguishing training and fire evacuation simulation each academic year. Students in the residence halls are provided with the housing requirements set forth in the Residence Life Handbook and are instructed on evacuation procedures.

Family and Graduate Housing

Check-in Appointment – Tenants are required to attend a check-in appointment within one week of their move into their apartment. During this meeting, tenants are given the following instructions. These are ongoing throughout the year, dependent on when the tenant(s) obtains housing.

• If an alarm is audible, vacate the building immediately in a safe manner;
• If smoke or fire are visible, dial 911 immediately and report visible fire/smoke;
• Tenants are encouraged and instructed to practice D.I.T.H. (more information below)

FireSafety Brochure – A fire safety brochure is delivered to all tenants during our week of welcome. This provides information for new tenants and a refresher for existing tenants. Details are listed below:

• D.I.T.H(Exit Drills in the Home) – education materials provided by NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) are provided to the tenants.
• Family & Graduate Housing Safety Fair – Held within first two weeks of fall semester, the Annual Safety Fair is an event for all tenants of Family & Graduate Fire safety is featured, along with a variety of other safety related topics (bicycle safety, household safety/ security, neighborhood crime reporting, fire extinguisher training, personal safety, etc.)
• All Family & Graduate Housing Apartments are equipped with portable fire extinguishers and Community Assistants attend and complete live fire extinguisher

FIRE DRILLS AND FIRE SAFETY SYSTEMS

The Higher Education Act (HEA) defines a fire drill as “A supervised practice of a mandatory evacuation of a building for a fire.” Within Academic and Administrative Facilities, fire drills are conducted yearly. Fire drills are announced and assist in the educational process for students and staff alike.     Within the residence halls and Family & Graduate Housing (FGH), fire drills are conducted in each building at the beginning of each academic period. Fire drills are scheduled with staff and unannounced to the general public.

The table below lists the various fire drills conducted in 2016, as well as a list of on campus residential and academic buildings and their current fire/life safety status.

RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES

FAMILY & GRADUATE HOUSING

5 Partial Sprinkler System is defined as having sprinklers in the common areas only.

6 Full Sprinkler system is defined as having sprinklers in both the common areas and individual rooms.                   93

FIRE SAFETY REPORT LOG 2016/2017/2018

The MSU Fire Log includes date, time and location of fire reports and the nature of the fire for the past three years in on-campus living units. The MSU Fire Log is accessible online and hard copies are available at the Residence Life Office during normal business hours.

The following table indicates the fire statistics from each on-campus housing facility during the last three years.

FAMILY & GRADUATE HOUSING

FAMILY & GRADUATE HOUSING

FAMILY & GRADUATE HOUSING

PLANS FOR FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN MSU’S FIRE SAFETY

Montana State University is committed to reviewing trends as it relates to residence hall fire incidents, alarms and best practices in order to provide our campus community with a fire-safe living and learning environment. New programs and policies are developed as needed to help ensure the life safety for all faculty, staff and students. The university does or does not have any planned improvements in fire safety at this time.

Montana State University is committed to enhancing the degree of fire and life safety of all campus facilities. As funding allows, the university would like to improve fire and life safety across facilities through:

• Single Station Smoke Alarm Upgrades
• Voice Evacuation Upgrades
• Area of Refuge Upgrades