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Fire Safety Information

Fire Safety Report

The Clery Act has expanded reporting requirements to include an “Annual Fire Safety Report” for on campus housing. The report is to be published no later than October 1st for each year. The Clarke University “Fire Safety Report” will be included with and published as part of the Annual Crime Statistics Report by October 1 of each year. Both the Crime Statistics and Fire Safety Reports may be accessed.

This report is submitted annually with the US Department of Education. The information for all institutions are available on-line from the Department of Education at www.ope.ed.gov/security (search by institution).

Residence Hall Fire Safety Systems

Clarke University does not have any off campus housing, but has four residence halls for on campus housing: Mary Frances Hall, Mary Josita Hall, Mary Benedict Hall and the Catherine Dunn Apartments.

Each building has a fire alarm system that, when activated, provides an audible and visual signal alerting occupants that the fire alarm has been activated.  The buildings fire alarm can be activated automatically by smoke and or heat detectors or by manually pulling a fire alarm pull station.

When the fire alarm is activated or if you receive verbal notification of a fire or possible fire, immediate evacuation of the involved building is required.

All residence hall fire alarm systems are monitored by an off campus monitoring service that will contact Campus security for any fire alarm activation.  If the monitoring service is notified of a fire alarm activation and can’t contact Clarke Security, they will contact the Dubuque Fire Department immediately who will respond to the involved building.

The fire alarm systems also conduct automated self diagnostics checks.  If a possible problem is detected with a system component during these checks, the monitoring service is automatically notified.  The monitoring service will then notify campus security to check the problem.

Fire extinguishers are placed throughout all residence halls and are readily available for use at any time.  The Catherine Dunn Apartment building has a sprinkler system.  The other three residence halls do not have a sprinkler system.

Fire drills for residence halls are held at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.  These drills are supervised by the Dubuque Fire Department when available, Residence Life Staff, and Safety & Security.

The use of electrical appliances is limited for protection against fire and/or power failure due to overloaded circuits. Shavers, hair dryers, curling irons, clocks, VCRs, radios, stereos, and televisions are permitted. Small refrigerators no more than 4.0 cubic feet and microwaves up to 1,000 watts are allowed in rooms. Appliances having an open flame, burner or heating element (i.e. hot plate) are not permitted. Halogen lamps are not permitted. If an extension cord, a multi-plug adapter, is needed you must use a 14-gauge power strip that is equipped with a circuit breaker. Do not walk on extension cords or lay them under carpets. This can cause excessive heat and/or damage to the wires. RAs are available for questions regarding appliances. Air conditioners and space heaters may not be used in any hall unless for medical reasons. A student requesting the use of an air conditioner must submit a letter to the Health Services from his/her doctor that clearly states the health condition and the reason the student needs an AC unit installed in their room. If permission is granted, the facilities management office will provide and install the appliance.

Clarke University is a tobacco free campus and smoking is not allowed anywhere on campus including student rooms. Open flames are not allowed in residence halls.

Reporting a Fire

Clarke Security shall always be called for any fire alarm activation, fire or suspected fire.  Security shall also be called if something seems unusual, but there is no sign of a fire or smoke.  An example would be that something smells “Hot”.  Security will assist in determining the origin of the smell and contact other assistance as necessary.  If you are not sure if someone needs to be called or who you should call, you should always call security for assistance.

If you know or reasonably believe that there is an active fire, you should activate the fire alarm if safe to do so, call 911 from a safe location followed immediately by a call to Clarke Security at (563)588-6393.  See the Emergency Response Guide.

Once emergency notifications are made to Clarke Security and or fire department, all fire alarm activations, and actual fires, will be reported to the following:

Vice President of Student Life  (563)588-6313
Director of Residence Life  (563)588-6555
Director of Safety & Security  (563)588-8145

Residence Hall Evacuation Procedures

Catherine Dunn Apartments (CDA)

Fire Alarm Procedure

Procedure
If a fire is suspected in the building, the fire alarm is to be pulled. In the event that an actual fire is discovered, get to safety IMMEDIATELY and call 9-911.

If the fire alarm does go off, do the following:

  • Evacuate the building
  • If it is verified that a fire exists call 911 (9-911from a campus phone) for immediate    assistance.
  • Security will be notified of the fire alarm through Simplex monitoring systems and will contact the RD on call.
  • Leave the building in an orderly manner.  Use stairs – Do not take any elevators.
  • Check for students with hearing problems or other disabilities who will need assistance.
  • Students should stand across the street from CDA, or behind Mary Benedict Hall
  • Students should remain outside or in a safe area until word has been received from the RD on duty or Security to re-enter the building/s.
  • The RD on duty will notify the Director of Residence Life, who will contact the Vice-President for Student Life

Mary Benedict Hall, Mary Josita Hall, Mary Frances Hall

Fire Alarm Procedure

Procedure
If a fire is suspected in the building, the fire alarm is to be pulled. In the event that an actual fire is discovered, get to safety IMMEDIATELY and call 9-911.

If the fire alarm does go off, do the following:

  • At the sounding of the alarm, all inhabitants must evacuate the buildings.
  • Resident Assistants (RA): Use shoe, flashlight or other object to bang on all of the resident room doors on RA’s designated floor/wing.  Then, use a dry-erase marker to mark “X” on the East or West stair door window to denote that the RA has knocked on all of the resident room doors.
  • All RA’s must gather and meet the Residence Hall Director (RD) outside the front exit of MBH. RA’s inform the RD that the building is clear, and the RD will verify which RA’s were in the building and had responded to the alarm.
  • The RD will instruct the RA’s to their designated posts outside to keep residents from entering the building before the all-clear is given by security and the RD. In the event of an evacuation, the RAs will lead the residents across the street to the SAC center. Security will be required to give access to the building.
  • The residents are only allowed back in the building when the RD has verified with security that the alarm had been silenced and that it is safe for the residents to return.

Resident Assistant Posts

Note: In the case of fire or other danger, all RA’s must maintain a distance of 500 feet from the building at all time.

Eight (8) RAs

  • Three (3) RAs will stand with the residents on the Clarke Drive sidewalk across the street from MBH, notifying residents not to re-enter the building during the alarm.
  • Three (3) RAs will be stationed near the front entrance of MBH, guiding students to the sidewalk across the street from MBH.
  • Two (2) RAs will be stationed near the ground-level exit door that faces the Dunn Apartments, making sure no one tries to enter the building during the alarm.

Seven (7) RAs

  • Three (3) RAs will stand with the residents on the Clarke Drive sidewalk across the street from MBH.
  • Two (2) RAs will be stationed near the front entrance of MBH guiding students to the sidewalk.
  • Two (2) RAs will be stationed near the ground-level exit door that faces the Dunn Apartments.

Six (6) RAs

  • Three (3) RAs will stand with the residents on the Clarke Drive sidewalk across the street from MBH.
  • Two (2) RAs will be stationed near the front entrance of MBH guiding students to the sidewalk.
  • One (1) RA will be stationed near the ground-level exit door that faces the Dunn Apartments.

Five (5) RAs

  • Two (2) RAs will stand with the residents on the Clarke Drive sidewalk across the street from MBH.
  • Two (2) RAs will be stationed near the front entrance of MBH guiding students to the sidewalk.
  • One (1) RA will be stationed near the ground-level exit door that faces the Dunn Apartments.

Four (4) RAs

  • Two (2) RAs will stand with the residents on the Clarke Drive sidewalk across the street from MBH.
  • Two (2) RAs will be stationed near the front entrance of MBH guiding students to the sidewalk.

Three (3) RAs

  • Two (2) RAs will stand with the residents on the Clarke Drive sidewalk across the street from MBH.
  • One (1) RA will be stationed near the front entrance of MBH guiding students to the sidewalk.

Two (2) RAs

  • One (1) RA will stand with the residents on the Clarke Drive sidewalk across the street from MBH.
  • One (1) RA will be stationed near the front entrance of MBH guiding students to the sidewalk.

One (1) RA

  • One (1) RA will be stationed near the front entrance of MBH guiding students to the sidewalk.