Fires and Fire Prevention

Fire Evacuation Policy

Every person in the building, including staff, faculty, students, visitors, and contractors where the fire alarm is sounding, regardless of known or suspected cause, is required to evacuate immediately. Persons evacuating must leave via the closest exit. Any equipment that could cause a fire should be turned off before exiting if it can be done quickly and safely. All occupants will assemble at a safe distance from the building and await further instructions from fire and/or Public Safety personnel. No occupant will re-enter a building until clearance is given by fire and/or Public Safety personnel.

Fire Prevention

Fire prevention is the responsibility of all members of the Mount Holyoke College community. College residence halls are particularly susceptible to fires, and students residing in the halls must carefully adhere to fire safety regulations.

Student Fire Safety Education Program

Mount Holyoke College’s fire safety education program is multi-faceted. Initial training on the college’s fire safety program is provided at the first hall meeting each year. Additional information and reminders on fire safety zones and evacuation procedures is provided to all students prior to the start of fire drills for the year. Student fire safety reps (coordinators of fire safet y for each hall) and residence hall staff receive additional training. The college provides additional fire safety education to students who violate campus fire safety policies.

Extensive fire safety information is also available at Residential Life online.

Fire Safety Policies

Of all the safety concerns on campus, fire safety is where the student's action or inaction can have the greatest impact on other students and the community.

Candles, Incense, and Open Flames

The most frequent causes of residence hall fires on our campus have been candles and incense. Candles, oil lamps, incense, alcohol lamps, and open flame burners are prohibited. The policy also prohibits listed items for decorative purposes.

Corridors

State fire regulations require that all paths of exit, including corridors and stairwells, be kept free of obstructions. Bicycles, boots, shoes, boxes, trash, suitcases, clothes, beds, and furniture should never be left in corridors or stairwells. Any item left in the corridors or stairwells will be confiscated and may be thrown away. Students are financial responsible for any missing room furniture, including furniture confiscated from corridors.

Electrical Equipment and Appliances

All electrical equipment is subject to inspection throughout the year by the College electrician as part of Mount Holyoke's continuing fire safety program. For example, before an electrician will reset a breaker or replace a fuse, he or she must first determine the cause of the electric overload and therefore must check all rooms on the involved circuit for problems. All types of halogen lamps are prohibited. Extension cords may be used, but they must be UL-approved. Multi-outlet extension cords are also allowed as long as they are UL-approved and have independent fuse protection. Extension cords should not be run under rugs, in travel ways, or under furniture. Do not tack extension cords to baseboards or other areas of the room. The storage and use of the following electrical appliances in student rooms are prohibited.

  • open heating coils
  • refrigerators measuring over 2.5 cubic feet 
  • outside radio and television antennas
  • space heaters
  • heat generating humidifiers or vaporizers
  • toasters
  • toaster ovens
  • electric grills/griddles
  • electric blankets

While most appliances are prohibited, there are a few exceptions, such as coffeepots, hot pots, and popcorn makers. Due to the limited capacity of the electric circuits, students are encouraged to confine electrical use to radios, stereos, tape players, television sets, clocks, razors, hair dryers, and computers. Appliances not in use must be turned off and/or disconnected.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are located on the main floor of each residence hall. Extinguishers should be used for their intended purpose only and should not be removed from their assigned location. Extinguishers should be used only after the alarm has been pulled and the fire department has been notified. Only then should you try to control a small fire, if you can do so safely. Report fires of any size by dialing 1-911 from a campus phone, or dial 413-538-2304 from a cell phone.

Fire Doors

Keep fire and smoke doors closed. These doors prevent the spread of smoke and fire, saving lives and minimizing damage to the building and personal property.

Fire Safety Inspections

In order to keep the residence hall free of fire hazards, fire safety inspections are performed four times a year: at the beginning of each semester, in November, and over the summer. The Hall Committee will follow up on any fire safety violations that are discovered during these inspections.

Flyers and other Postings

Flyers and other wall postings make the spread of fire much quicker and easier. To increase the safety within the residence halls, we ask students to post flyers and announcements in designated areas only. This is typically the cork board on the room door and a community events board on the main floor of the residence hall lobby. Flyers places on walls, glass of fire doors, or on entry ways will be removed.

Gasoline and other Combustibles

Any item with a gasoline engine is prohibited in residential buildings. Gas barbeque grills, charcoal, and lighter fluids are also prohibited items. Grilling on the campus grounds is prohibited. Student or groups wishing to host a barbeque should contact the catering services via Willits Hallowell Conference Center. They will review the cost.

Room Furnishings

State law prohibits the use of upholstered furniture in student rooms. Futons should be fire-resistant. Waterbeds, lofts, and hanging chairs are prohibited in residence hall rooms. Decorations may not be hung from the ceiling or sprinkler pipes.

Approved Decorations

All decorations throughout the building must be flame-resistant.

  • Only fireproof artificial trees may be used in College buildings. Massachusetts law prohibits natural trees and other natural decorations.
  • If a holiday tree is set up in a residence hall, decorations must be made of flameproof or fireproof glass or metal. Items must be labeled as fireproof, not assumed to be fireproof. Only UL-approved lighting sets may be used to decorate a tree.
  • balloons (filled with nonflammable gas)
  • aluminum foil and other metal decorations
  • posters made of heavy cardboard or paper that has been treated with flame-resistant solution (Check label for this information.)
  • Window decorations must be limited to the glass area. Only watercolor paints may be used. The steel or wooden frames of the windows are not to be painted or taped with any kind of tape. Windows must be cleaned at the end of the event or holiday season.

Prohibited Decorations

No decorations of any kind are allowed in corridors, stairwells, or any means of exit. Doors (except for bulletin boards on doors may not be decorated with cards, ribbons, wrapping paper, or natural wreaths.

  • No fires are to be lighted in the fireplace when the mantel is decorated. Fireplace mantel decorations should be kept to a minimum.
  • Cornstalks, hay, straw, and excelsior are prohibited.
  • Cut or live trees, wreaths, and sprays may not be used in the building. They may be used on the outside of exterior doors.
  • Items that may damage the interior paint or wallpaper of any building are prohibited.
  • Paper lanterns are prohibited.
  • Plastic film and coverings are prohibited.

Items prohibited in the residence halls include, but are not limited to:

  • Candles, incense, open flames
  • open heating coils
  • household-size and apartment-size refrigerators measuring over 16"x 19"x 18"
  • outside radio and television antennas
  • space heaters
  • heat generating humidifiers or vaporizers
  • toasters
  • toaster ovens
  • upholstered furniture unless treated with a fire-retardant chemical and is labeled as such

For more information, see the Fire Safety Policies online at Residential Life.

Community Fire Safety Responsibilities

All members of the community are required to:

  • Participate in all fire drills and promptly leave a building when the fire alarm sounds. Follow any instructions of Public Safety or fire officials during a drill or an actual alarm.
  • Report any condition that creates a fire hazard (trash in the corridors or stairwlls, missing fie extinguishers, blocked floor exits or stairwells, etc.) to Public Safety.
  • Report any active or past fire to Public Safety.
  • Know where the fire extinguishers are located. Learn how to operate them. If you need training, contact the Facilities Management Department.
  • Know the location of the fire alarms and how to activate them.
  • Know where the nearest exits are and be prepared to use an alternative exit, if necessary. Plan how you would escape through each of these exits in case of a fire.
  • Know the location of the fire stairwells.
  • Never use an elevator to evacuate a building.
  • If you become trapped, dial 1-911 from a campus phone or (413) 538-2304 from a cell phone and alert the dispatcher to your location.

What should I do if I discover a fire?

Any person who discovers a fire, smoke, or an unusual amount of heat should do the following:

  • Pull the nearest fire alarm.
  • Exit the building immediately; notify those in the immediate area of the danger.
  • Assist in removing any person needing assistance from the immediate area and to the stairwells to wait for fire department personnel (or to the outside if that can be done safely). However, never place yourself in danger.
  • Assemble outside your building at the predetermined location.
  • Follow the instructions given by the Public Safety Officers and the South Hadley Fire Department personnel.