Northern Virginia Community College

When notified of a fire or a suspected fire, the Campus Police and Facilities personnel should immediately:

• Confirm that there is actually a fire.
• Proceed immediately (WITH THE LIST OF FIRE WARDENS AND, IF NEEDED, A SET OF FLOOR PLANS) to the site of the reported fire and determine whether to call the Fire Department.
• Determine whether you can control the fire with a fire extinguisher. If it is a small fire, which the officer can handle, (s)he should immediately radio the CPD office that (s)he will extinguish the fire and notify the department when that has been done.

The Officer should:

• Radio the Campus Police Office or the Business Office if the fire is large enough to require assistance from the Fire Department. The Officer should request assistance from these offices in proceeding with all of the following procedures, making sure it is clearly understood which thing will be done and by whom. If none of these offices is open, the Officer should continue performing the following tasks.
• PULL THE FIRE ALARM, if the fire is in or near any building even if the fire occurs on a weekend, during late night hours, or when the building is closed. All occupants must immediately evacuate the building when the fire alarm system is activated for more than 30 seconds, unless they have been advised otherwise by the proper authorities (Campus Police, Business Manager, Provost, Facilities Manager) that the system is undergoing a scheduled test.
• Notify the Alexandria Fire & Rescue Squad.
• Identify yourself and report that there is a fire at Northern Virginia Community College Alexandria Campus.
• Describe the location of the fire and type.
• Describe the severity of the fire.
• Send someone, if possible, to the entrance of the campus to direct the Fire Department to the fire scene and proceed to the designated Command Post or to the site of the fire (which may be the same location).
• Ask the Building Wardens whether the appointed Evacuation Floor Wardens for each floor checked all of the rooms, (including the bathrooms) for occupants in the building and assist staff in evacuating people, if necessary. Remind them ELEVATORS MAY NOT BE USED FOR EVACUATION. Floor Wardens are to report to the Building Evacuation Wardens when they have completed their assignments. The person at the Command Post should make sure all the Wardens got out of the building by checking their names against the list provided by the Building Evacuation Wardens who report to him when they believe the evacuation is complete and determine what to do if people are missing or unaccounted for.
• Aid or find aid in evacuating all persons with disabilities who need assistance. Determine the probable location of any disabled students or staff by referring to the list in the College office. Designated faculty and staff members will assist people with mobility disabilities. Request assistance from Facilities or other staff when it is necessary to aid someone in negotiating the stairwells.
• Check or have someone else check on elevators. Once it is empty, each elevator should be shut off via instruction from a Police Officer to a Facilities person.
• Remain at the site of the fire or other incident if not needed to help with the evacuation of the building to direct the Fire Department and to secure the area. This would include preserving any evidence on the origin of the fire or incident and keeping onlookers away.
• Assist in helping victims of burns or smoke inhalation, in accordance with written procedures, if necessary, until the Alexandria Rescue Squad is available.
• Assist Fire Marshall in the investigation, if asked. After the threat of the fire has passed, the Officer should question the person who reported the fire and any witnesses that were present at the onset of the fire.
• Ensure that the Provost, Business Manager, Vice President of F&AS, CPD Chief, Department of Risk Management, and the Public Information Office are notified of this event, as soon as possible.
• Write a case report of the incident. Should arson be suspected, the Fire Department will notify the Fire Marshall's office, which will be responsible for conducting the investigation.