In September, Krisztina Forward and Maura Ferrero, Safety Officers for the School of Veterinary Medicine, coordinated a building evacuation fire drill over five days for seven buildings that house laboratories, lecture halls, clinical facilities, and administrative offices.

Along with a comprehensive communications effort to keep building occupants informed, Forward and Ferrero enlisted the support of campus partners such as the UC Davis Fire Department, Facilities Management’s Lock Shop and Alarms Teams, and Environmental Health and Safety.

Fire drill teams achieved the following objectives:

• Check for properly functioning fire doors, strobes, announcers/horns
• Ensure all personnel evacuated the facilities safely

After the building evacuation
The building occupants assembled in their pre-determined locations where the UC Davis Fire Department provided feedback on the evacuation and education about what do in case of an emergency.

It was impressive to see how these two safety officers coordinated this massive event so well.

Host a fire drill
Fire evacuation drills are a great way for departments to practice their evacuation procedures.

The UC Davis Fire Department can perform a limited number of building evacuations each month.

• Advanced notice and coordination with the building occupants is critical.
• The Fire Department will not conduct the exercise if coordination between department DSCs has not occurred.

To schedule a fire drill, please contact the UC Davis Fire Department.