Fire Safety Systems in Residential Facilities

The following residence halls have fire alarm systems consisting of manual pull stations:

  • Fulton Flats Residence
  • Fulton House Residence
  • Fromm Residence Hall
  • Gillson Residence Hall
  • Hayes-Healy Residence Hall
  • Lone Mountain Residence Halls
  • Lone Mountain Pacific Wing
  • Loyola Village Residence
  • St. Anne’s Community
  • Toler Residence Hall

Lone Mountain East Residence Halls do not have a manual pull station, but instead is equipped with an automatic smoke and fire detection system. When fire alarm systems activate (whether manually or automatically), sirens and strobes are activated to alert the residents.

All student rooms have single station smoke detectors. Activation sounds a local alarm in the room only. Students are not permitted to tamper with, disable, or destroy smoke detectors or other fire safety devices. Students found in violation of the fire regulation procedures will be charged a $250 fine and will face university disciplinary action.

It is essential that fire lanes be clear of vehicles and obstructions at all times. Vehicles in violation will be cited and are subject to towing at the owner’s expense. Additionally, all hallways and stairwells must be completely free and clear of all debris, personal belongings, or other obstructions that may impede egress. Students may not use hallways or stairwells to store or dispose of any items.

Electrical appliances with exposed heating elements—including but not limited to space heaters, sun-lamps, torchiere halogen lamps, ceiling fans, air conditioners, and hot plates—afford undue safety risks and are prohibited in rooms and independent living units. Woks, rice cookers, toaster ovens, coffee makers, and similar cooking appliances may not be used in any room other than a kitchen or kitchenette. Due to power and facilities risks, other large electrical items are not permitted in rooms or independent living units, including but not limited to exercise machines, portable washers, dryers, or dishwashers. Additionally, hoverboards, electric scooters and similar battery-charged transportation devices are banned from all campus locations.

Candles (including unburned, decorative candles), incense, and other objects with open flames are considered extremely dangerous due to the potential for fire and are prohibited in both private and public living spaces. Candles found in the residence halls or apartments will be confiscated and destroyed, and students found in possession of candles are subject to a $250 fine and other disciplinary sanctions.

Smoking and vaping are prohibited in all residence halls and independent living units, as well as in any common area within the residence halls and independent living buildings. In accordance with university policy, smoking is not permitted on campus. Those found in violation may be subject to a $250 fine.

For additional residential policies, students may also refer to the Fogcutter Student Handbook at www.usfca.edu/fogcutter.

For emergency response purposes, fires must be reported to Public Safety Dispatch at (415) 422-2911.

For Clery reporting purposes all fires must be reported to one of the following individuals or organizations:

  • Resident Adviser and/or Resident Director
  • Student Housing, (415) 422-6824
  • Community Living, (415) 422-6824
  • Public Safety, (415) 422-4201

University buildings are equipped with automatic fire detection and alarm systems which are connected to a third party fire alarm monitoring system that is staffed 24 hours a day year round. Fire drills are conducted twice a year in all residence halls. The first drill is scheduled in the fall semester and the second drill is conducted during the spring semester. All fire drills, evacuations, and inspections are announced in advance. The fire safety systems in residential facilities are tested and certified by USF Facilities Engineering and their contractor each year in the spring semester.

Buildings are equipped with a variety of features that are designed to detect, stop, and/or suppress the spread of a fire. A door can be the first line of defense against the spread of smoke or fire from one area to another. Some doors, such as fire doors in corridors or stairwells of residence halls, are designed to stand up to fire longer than those of an individual room. It is a violation of university policy for residents to:

  • Prop open a door
  • Obstruct or disable the smoke detectors and strobes with materials hanging from the devices

In the Event of a Fire

Fire alarms alert community members of potential hazards, and USF community members are required to follow the warning and evacuate the building immediately upon hearing a fire alarm.

Expectations of All Building Occupants

  • Sound Alarm. If smoke or fire is observed, pull the nearest fire alarm pull station. Fire alarm pull stations activate alarm bells throughout the building to alert others of the fire emergency. Pulling the fire alarm station saves lives.
  • Use the Nearest Exit or Exit Stairwell. Immediately exit the building upon hearing an alarm, even if you have not seen smoke or fire. The nearest exit should be identified prior to an emergency. Move away from the building and report to your designated emergency assembly area.
  • Do not wait for confirmation of an actual fire or assume the alarm is a false alarm. Evacuate quickly and immediately, even if fire and smoke are not apparent.
  • Do not use the elevator. Elevators enter into a “fire service” mode and may not respond to calls when the fire alarm system has been activated. Occupants may become trapped in elevators. Do not attempt to locate the fire.
  • Do not attempt to fight or extinguish the fire.
  • Do not re-enter the building until the fire department gives authorization.
  • Call x2911 or (415) 422-2911. Once safely outside contact Public Safety Dispatch to report as much information as possible and to confirm the fire department has been notified and dispatched. Call x2911 from an outside blue light phone or if using a cell phone, call (415) 422-2911.

Residential Facility Fire Safety Systems

Residential Facilities Partial Sprinkler System* Full Sprinkler System** Smoke Detection Fire Extinguisher Devies Evacuation Plans / Placards Number of Evacuation (Fire) Drills Each Calendar Year
Fromm Hall None None x x x 2
Fulton Flats   x x x x 2
Fulton House None None x x x 2
Gillson Hall x   x x x 2
Hayes-Healy Hall x   x x x 2
Lone Mountain East   x x x x 2
Lone Mountain   x x x x 2
Lone Mountain Pacific Wing None None x x x 2
Loyola Village   x x x x 2
St. Anne’s Community None None x x x 2
Toler Hall x   x x x 2

*Partial Sprinkler System is defined as having sprinklers in common areas only.
**Full Sprinkler System is defined as having sprinklers in both common areas and individual rooms.

Fire Statistics

USF Residential Facility Total Fires in Each Building Fire Number Cause of Fire Number of Injuries that Required Treatment at a Medical Facility Number of Deaths Related to a Fire Value of Property Damage Caused by Fire
Fromm Hall
2497 Golden
Gate Ave		 2 1 Unintentional/Trash can fire caused by cigarette 0 0 $0-99
    2 Unintentional/Oven fire 0 0 $0-99
Fulton Flats
1563-1569 Fulton St		 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Fulton House
1982 Fulton St		 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Gillson Hall
2325 Golden
Gate Ave		 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Hayes-Healy
Hall
2305 Golden
Gate Ave		 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Lone Mountain
Residential Hall
330 Parker Ave		 1 1 Unintentional/Space heater caught on fire 0 0 N/A
Lone Mountain East Residential Hall
2500-2550 Turk Blvd		 1 1 Intentional/Signs burned with cigarette 0 0 $0-200
Lone Mountain
Pacific Wing
2800 Turk St		 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Loyola Village
331 Anza St		 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
St. Anne’s
Community
1330 14th Ave		 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Toler Hall
2345 Golden		 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A