Fire Safety
Fire Detection Systems
All Residence Halls and Academic/Administrative buildings at the University are monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by the Emergency Operations Staff. When a general building alarm is activated, it is received by the Emergency Operations Staff. The Emergency Operations Staff then dispatches Fredericksburg Fire Department, as well as University Police.
Fire Alarm Pull Stations
Pull Stations are located throughout the buildings at UMW. They are red and labeled FIRE, normally in white letters. They are to be used to alert the building of an emergency, whether it is a fire or another kind of emergency that requires the building to evacuate. Activating a pull station also notifies the Emergency Operations Center, which then dispatches Fredericksburg Fire Department, as well as University Police.
Other Fire and Life Safety Equipment
Exit Signs
Each building at the University is equipped with exit lights that must illuminate at least 5-foot candles. Exit lights follow applicable codes, and shall operate in the event of a power outage.
Fire Extinguishers
All buildings at UMW are equipped with multi-purpose ABC type fire extinguishers. They are located throughout the buildings and are mounted on the walls or stored inside fire extinguisher cabinets. These extinguishers can be used to suppress typical fires.
Use Fire Extinguishers by applying the PASS Method:
- Stand back from fire
- “P” Pull the pin
- “A” Aim at the base of the fire, not the smoke or flame
- “S” Squeeze the handle to activate
- “S” Sweep back and forth at the base of the fire. Remember, the extinguisher will only last 8-10 seconds. These are only first aid devices.
Fire Drills
Fire Drills are conducted in all buildings at UMW. Residential building fire drills are coordinated and performed by the Student Fire Marshal under the direction of Emergency Management and Safety for each building. There are 3 drills per semester performed in each Residence Hall. The Academic and Administrative buildings conduct annual drills. During all drills, the proper evacuation plans need to be followed. The evacuation plans are posted on every floor throughout the buildings. There is also a pre-determined muster point where individuals who has exited the building gather for accountability purposes.
Prohibited Appliances
There is a “NO Smoking” policy within all UMW buildings, in addition to no smoking within 50 feet of a building. Appliances within student residential buildings must be UL Listed. Appliances not allowed in residence halls consist of any appliance with a heating element which is not equipped with an automatic shut off timer. The following are examples of prohibited items:
- George Foreman Grills
- Hot Plates
- Burners
- Lava Lamps
- Candles
- Incense
- Hot Pots
- Scentsy-type burners
Zero Tolerance Policy
The University of Mary Washington enforces a Zero Tolerance Policy for the intentional abuse or damage of or tampering with Fire and Life Safety Equipment. Any student found in violation of this listed infractions will be permanently removed from all residential halls at UMW.
UMW Residential Fire Safety Overview
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X= Building is equipped with the listed fire safety system |
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| Housing Area | Fire Extinguishers | Smoke Detectors | Manual Pull Stations | Fire Suppression | Fire Alarm Systems | |||
| Fredericksburg Campus | ||||||||
| Arrington | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Ball | X | X | X | – | X | |||
| Bushnell | X | X | X | – | X | |||
| Custis | X | X | X | – | X | |||
| Eagle Landing | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Framar | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Jefferson | X | X | X | – | X | |||
| Madison | X | X | X | – | X | |||
| Marshall | X | X | X | – | X | |||
| Mason | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Randolph | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Russell | X | X | X | – | X | |||
| South | X | X | X | – | X | |||
| UMW Apartments | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Westmoreland | X | X | X | – | X | |||
| Willard | X | X | X | X | X | |||
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UMW Apartments has a limited sprinkler system in the storage space only. |
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| South Hall has a limited sprinkler system in the mechanical room | ||||||||
| Russell Hall has a limited sprinkler system in the Records Storage room | ||||||||
2020 Residence Hall Fire Statistics
UMW Statistical Information on Fires in Residential Facilities
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