Fire Safety

Fire Safety Office

The Bryant University Fire Safety Office is a division of the University's Department of Public Safety and is committed to ensuring that Bryant University is compliant with all applicable Rhode Island State and federal fire codes. The prevention of loss of life and property due to fire is the focus of the program. 

The Bryant University Fire Marshal is Scott Caron. He is a graduate of Providence College and is a certified NFPA Fire Inspector. Scott is a twenty-five-year veteran of the Smithfield Fire Department where he served as Fire Marshal and served as Chief of Fire Safety Inspections for the R.I. State Fire Marshal’s Office. 

The University Fire Marshal works closely with the Smithfield Fire Department to maintain fire code compliance with all campus activities and special events. 

The Fire Marshal conducts fire drills and fire safety inspections in student housing and other buildings on campus. The Fire Marshal is also responsible for inspecting and maintaining the many fire extinguishers located throughout the campus. He also provides fire extinguisher training to the Bryant community. 

The Bryant Evacuation Safety Team (BEST) is managed and trained by the Bryant University Fire Marshal.

Fire Prevention

Smoke Carefully 
If you smoke, don't smoke in buildings on campus or near flammable materials. Use large ashtrays and be sure ashes, matches, and cigarette ends are cold before you dump them. Don't smoke while intoxicated. 

Cook in Approved Areas or Kitchens and use Laboratory Tested Appliances
Stay nearby while appliances are on. Clean up grease and appliances as soon as possible. 

Be Careful with Electricity
Use only laboratory tested appliances. Don't overload outlets. Replace damaged wires. 

Help Eliminate 

Electrical Abuse
Use of electrical "octopuses" to obtain more outlets can result in overloaded circuits and fire -- replace damaged wires -- match your appliance power requirements to the circuit power. 

Appliances
Hot plates, percolators, irons, space heaters, etc. should never be left unattended or used in prohibited areas. They should be unplugged after use and not stored until they are cool enough to touch. Also, appliances may overload circuits -- keep heaters away from curtains and furniture -- match the size of an extension cord to the appliance power cord to prevent cord overheating. 

Open Flames
Open flames, such as candles, are not allowed on campus. 

Hazardous Storage
Dispose of all waste as soon as possible. Surplus material and paper recycling containers should be stored in a safe place, not in corridors, stairs or exit ways. 

Flammable Liquids
Gasoline, kerosene, ether, paint, glue, etc. may not be stored in residential buildings. In laboratories, shops and classrooms, storage of flammable liquids is limited to specific quantities and approved containers. 

Obstacles 
Storage of bicycles, chairs, desks, and other items is prohibited in all exit ways. Blocked exits have caused "chain reaction" pile ups of fallen people during emergencies.

Fire Extinguisher Use

Elements of Fire 
Before extinguishing a fire, it is important to understand the elements that make up a fire. In order for fire to occur, four elements must be present: oxygen, fuel, heat, and a chemical chain reaction. This is represented by the Fire Tetrahedron. When any of the four elements are removed, the fire will go out. Fire extinguishers function by removing one of the four components of the Fire Tetrahedron. 

Types of Fires 
Fire Extinguishers are rated based upon the types of fires they are designed to put out. These ratings are identified on the label of the fire extinguisher. Care should be taken to ensure the extinguisher chosen to put out a fire is proper for the type of fire. Listed below are the four main types of ratings. 

• Class A: Ordinary combustible materials, wood, paper, plastics and clothing
• Class B: Flammable Liquids and Gases
• Class C: Energized Electrical Equipment
• Class D: Combustible metals

The University uses the following types of fire extinguishers:

• Water (Class A)
• Carbon Dioxide (Class BC)
• Multipurpose Dry Chemical (Class ABC)

PASS 
Follow the PASS procedure when operating any fire extinguisher: 
P: Pull the pin. 
A: Aim at the base of the fire. 
S: Squeeze the handle or lever. 
S: Sweep from side to side.

Rules for Extinguisher Usage 

1. Be trained in extinguisher use
2. Use on small fires that are not spreading.
3. Know what type of fuel is burning.
4. Before extinguishing the fire, position yourself with the exit at your back.
5. Do not attempt to extinguish the fire if you are in jeopardy or feel uncomfortable doing so.

Note: Maintenance Missing or discharged fire extinguishers should be reported immediately to the Fire Marshal at 401-232-6852.

Safety Tips

If There is a fire 

• Sound the Alarm
  If you discover or suspect a fire, sound the building fire alarm by activating a pull station. Then leave the building.
• Leave the Building
  Try to warn or assist others only if you can do so safely. Move away from the building and out of the way of the fire department. Don't go back into the building until the fire department says it is safe to do so.
• Call Public Safety or the Fire Department
  • Public Safety Emergency Line x6911
  • Fire Department 911
  • Give as much information as possible to the emergency dispatcher!!

Surviving a building fire

• Crawl if There's Smoke
  If you get caught in smoke, get down and crawl. Cleaner, cooler air will be near the floor. Get Low - And Go.
• Feel Doors before Opening
  Before opening any doors, feel the metal knob. If it is hot, don't open the door. If it is cool, brace yourself against the door, open it slightly, and if heat or heavy smoke are present, close the door and stay in the room.
• Go to the nearest Exit or Stairway
  If the nearest exit is blocked by fire, heat, or smoke, go to another exit.
• Always use an Exit Stair and not an Elevator
  Elevator shafts may fill with smoke or the power may fail, leaving you trapped. Stairway fire doors will keep out fire and smoke -- if they are closed -- and will protect you until you get outside.
• Close as many doors as possible as you leave. This helps to confine the fire.
• Total and Immediate Evacuation is Safest
  Only use a fire extinguisher if the fire is very small and you know how to do it safely. If you can't put out the fire, leave immediately. Make sure the fire department is called -- even if you think the fire is out.

If you get trapped

• Keep the Doors Closed
  Seal cracks and vents if smoke comes in. If you're trapped in a room and there's no smoke outside, open the windows -- from the top to let out the heat and smoke and from the bottom to let in fresh air.
• Signal for Help
  Hang an object at the window (a bed sheet, jacket, shirt) to attract the fire department's attention. If there is a phone in the room, call the fire department and report that you are trapped. Be sure to give your room number and location.
• Sometimes it's Safer to Stay in Place
  If all exits from a floor are blocked, go back to your room, close the door, seal cracks, open the windows if safe, wave something at the window, and shout or phone for help.
• Don't jump! The fire department will rescue you!!!

If you are on fire

• Stop, Drop, and Roll
  If your clothes catch on fire, stop, drop, and roll, wherever you are. Rolling smothers the fire.
• Cool Burns 
  Use cool tap water on burns, immediately. Don't use ointments. If skin is blistered, dead white, brown or charred, call for an ambulance.

Bryant Evacuation Safety Team (BEST)

The Bryant Evacuation Safety Team (BEST) is a group of volunteers made up of staff and faculty members who augment the efforts of the Department of Public Safety in evacuating the building by ushering people out the building during fire alarms in the Unistructure. BEST members are assigned to various parts of the building and are equipped with handheld two-way radios by which they have communications with the Department of Public Safety. They can notify persons in their area about the severity and duration of the event and direct them to shelter when necessary. When it is safe to re-enter the building, BEST members will be notified and they in turn will notify persons at their location. 

BEST team members are trained and equipped by the Department of Public Safety Fire Marshal. Any faculty or staff member with an interest in participating as a BEST member should contact the Bryant University Fire Marshal at x6852 or by calling the business line of the Department of Public Safety, x6001.