Fire safety policy

The purpose of this policy is to promote fire safety and awareness at the university and to enable the university to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, and applicable implementing regulations, which require each institution of higher education that maintains on-campus student housing to establish specific fire prevention and safety procedures and programs and to make annual disclosures regarding these procedures and programs as well as statistics regarding fires in its residence life facilities.

Lynn University complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 fire safety policies and reporting requirements by (i) maintaining a fire log and statistics regarding any fires in on-campus housing facilities (see the crime and fire log policy); (ii) maintaining fire safety systems in all student housing facilities; (iii) conducting regular fire drills in residence halls; (iv) maintaining evacuation plans for each residence hall; (v) providing and publicizing fire safety and training programs for students and employees; and (vi) annually disclosing fire statistics and fire safety program information as part of the university’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. TThe university’s fire safety program's components are more fully below.

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 system—any mechanism or system related to detecting a fire, the warning resulting from a fire, or controlling a fire. This may include sprinkler systems or other fire extinguishing systems; fire detection devices; stand-alone smoke alarms; devices that alert one to the presence of a fire, such as horns, bells, or strobe lights; smoke-control and reduction mechanisms; and fire doors and walls that reduce the spread of a fire.

I. Reporting a fire

If a fire occurs in a Lynn building, community members should immediately call 911 while getting to a place of safety. Once safe, notify Campus Safety at +1 561-237-7226. Campus Safety will respond and aid in evacuation and assist the Fire Department in locating the emergency. 

If a member of the Lynn community finds evidence of a fire that has been extinguished, and the person is unsure whether Campus Safety has already responded, immediately notify Campus Safety to investigate and document the incident.

II. Fire protection equipment/systems

A majority of university buildings are equipped with automatic fire detection and alarm systems that a contracted alarm monitoring company monitors. Refer to the Annual Security and Fire Report (see fire safety amenities in the residential facilities chart) for information about each residential facility's fire detection, notification, and suppression systems. In accordance with Florida law, when a building alarm sounds, all occupants are required to leave the building. Occupants cannot re-enter a building until permitted by appropriate university staff.

III. Fire statistics

Campus Safety maintains a database of all reported fires and fire alarms in the residence halls. Data collected includes for each residence hall the number and cause of each fire; the number of persons who received fire-related injuries that resulted in treatment at a medical facility, including the Health Center; the number of deaths related to fire; and the dollar values for property damaged by the fire.

IV. Inspections

The university. The university contracts with independent companies to perform inspections of all fire control systems as required by law. In addition, Campus Safety conducts periodic inspections on lighting, emergency phones, and other areas of concern. All noted conditions are submitted for repairs.

V. Fire drills

Fire drills in the university residence halls are conducted regularly. When the alarm sounds, residents must vacate the building immediately. Residents are expected to know all exits in their building. Residents who fail to leave the building during a drill and are discovered by the fire department are subject to disciplinary action.

VI. Fire safety practices

If a fire occurs in a Lynn University building, community members should immediately notify Campus Safety at 561-237-7226. Campus Safety will initiate a response, as the department can summon the fire department quickly and provide detailed directions to the location. If a member of the Lynn community finds evidence of a fire that has been extinguished, and the person is wondering whether Campus Safety has already responded, the community member should immediately notify Campus Safety to investigate and document the incident. Fire alarms alert community members of potential hazards. Community members must 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. Lynn community members should familiarize themselves with the exits in each building.

When a fire alarm is activated, the elevators in most buildings will automatically stop at the first floor. Occupants should also use the stairs to evacuate the building and move to the designated assembly area for that building. If caught in the elevator, push the emergency phone button—the emergency phones in elevators on campus ring to Campus Safety.

VII. Residence hall rally points during fire alarms

Lynn University has several rally points for its residence halls in case a fire alarm is activated. Campus Safety, Residence Life, and other staff will direct students, faculty, and staff to these “rally points/safe zones” designated for each residence hall. Please review the locations below for each building:

• Trinity – Individuals should exit the building and be directed to the McCusker Pool Center.
• E.M. Lynn – Individuals should be directed either to the McCusker Pool Center or the east lawn of the deHoernle residence hall and away from the roadway.
• DeHoernle – Individuals should be directed to the softball field (east) or the athletic (soccer) field (west), keeping everyone out of the roadways.
• Freiburger – Individuals should be directed to the outfield of the baseball field or down toward the dining commons.
• Lynn – Individuals should be directed to the quad between EML and Trinity or toward the dining commons.
• Perper – Individuals should be directed to the West Lot – gravel lot (northwest) of the residence hall.
• Capstone – The parking lot across Perper Drive

VIII. Fire safety education and training

Lynn University promotes campus fire safety on an ongoing basis through various safety education and training programs. Residence life staff members receive an orientation to the operations and locations of the fire alarm system and a review of their roles during a fire or fire drill. They also receive general fire safety and fire extinguisher training during fall training. Students receive a general orientation to the fire systems present in the building during the first week of the residents’ arrival. Staff also review evacuation and emergency procedures with residents. Finally, residence hall students participate in fire drills during the academic year.

To learn more about this policy or the supporting procedures, please contact Campus Safety.