Fire drills taking place September 23 to 26 in TMU-managed buildings
Fire drills will be happening across the campus in TMU-managed buildings to test the fire response system and address any gaps in our processes. These drills are an important safety procedure for all buildings and are a legislative requirement.
The series of fire drills are scheduled September 23 to 26, 2024 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. (noon).
Employees who are on campus at the time will be expected to participate in the fire drill and evacuate upon hearing the appropriate alarm.
Participation of fire wardens
Fire wardens who are on campus should follow normal fire evacuation procedures. Students, faculty and staff should follow instructions from any on-site TMU fire wardens, who can be identified by their distinctive vests.
What you need to do
Follow fire alarm procedures
TMU is equipped with two different alarm systems: single and two-stage, each with specific procedures in case of a fire alarm.
Learn more about procedures for building evacuations and drills, including what to do if you encounter fire or smoke.
Buildings with single-stage alarm systems
When the alarm sounds, please leave the building immediately via the nearest emergency exit in a calm and orderly fashion.
Learn which TMU-managed buildings have single-stage alarm systems.
Buildings with two-stage alarm systems
When the alarm sounds, listen carefully to distinguish the signal, as there will be two different tones. The first stage alert notifies trained staff to carry out specific protocols and all other occupants should stand by for a potential evacuation. The second stage alarm is an urgent evacuation signal and all occupants must evacuate the building. Do not wait for further announcements once the second stage alarm sounds.
Learn which TMU-managed buildings have two-stage alarm systems.
After you have exited, move away from building entrances and exits
Once you have exited the building, please move away from building exits to allow for the safe evacuation of others behind you and to ensure clear access for emergency services.
Familiarize yourself with the evacuation procedure for persons requiring assistance
In an emergency, students, faculty, staff and community members requiring assistance to exit a building should follow the following procedures:
- Stay where you are.
- Contact TMU Security to let them know you require assistance to evacuate the building and where you are located — refer to the yellow “In an Emergency” placard in the room for your exact location.
- TMU Security will share that information with Toronto Fire.
- In the event of an actual emergency where evacuation is deemed necessary by Toronto Fire, a person requiring assistance will be met by Toronto Fire.
Make sure emergency plans are in place for employees who require assistance to evacuate
Are there employees who require assistance evacuating a building in your department or faculty (e.g. someone who uses a mobility device or who has an injury)? Leaders are responsible for providing emergency information and procedures to all employees, and support those who require evacuation assistance by implementing individualized accommodation plans for emergencies.
If you have any questions about accessibility accommodations in the event of an evacuation, we encourage you to speak to your supervisor or submit a request to Human Resources through AskHR.
If you are a fire warden
Fire wardens are expected to complete an (google form) Evacuation Observations Form (external link) following a fire drill in your designated area. This is an important opportunity to identify any areas for improvement in procedure.
Fire wardens in TMU-managed buildings that require training can request an in-person training session by contacting Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) at ehs@torontomu.ca.
Additional tips for preparing for an emergency on campus
In an emergency, call 911
If you encounter an emergency on campus or you have immediate safety or security concerns, call 911. If it is safe to do so, you may also then notify TMU Security at 416-979-5040.
Download the TMU Safe app and enable notifications
All students, faculty and staff should ensure they have the TMU Safe app downloaded on their mobile devices with notifications enabled and the number for TMU Security (416-979-5040) in their phone contacts.
While TMU Safe does periodically issue alerts as part of system-wide testing, please note that TMU Safe alerts are not issued for fire drills or false alarms.
Stay in the loop with service alerts
Visit the service alerts feed for the most up-to-date information about service interruptions on campus.
Questions or concerns?
For specific questions about the annual fire drills, please contact Daniel Dixon, facilities engineer, compliance, at dan.dixon@torontomu.ca.
For general questions, please contact the Facilities Help Desk at fixit@torontomu.ca or 416-979-5091.
For urgent after-hours concerns, please contact TMU Security at security@torontomu.ca or 416-979-5040. In the case of an emergency, dial 911.