Cedar Crest College Campus Police

ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY REPORT

For Residential Halls owned and operated by Cedar Crest College, the following fire safety policies and procedures are in place.

Students and Staff are trained on the evacuation of the Residence Halls and evacuation routes are posted on each building’s bulletin boards along with other fire safety information. Fire Safety is addressed at the beginning of each year for both first year students and staff.  The Allentown Fire Department conducts a fire safety training session with Residence Hall Staff prior to the beginning of each school year. Drills are conducted twice per semester and all students must evacuate the building when a fire alarm sounds.  Drills are documented and problems are addressed.  During a fire or a drill, the Residence Hall Staff assists with accountability of residents of the Residence Hall and a written procedure is in place.  Fire Safety Policies have been established and are outlined in the Student Handbook.

Burning or burnt candles or incense, toaster ovens, potpourri crocks, halogen lamps, unapproved electric heaters, space heaters, hot plates and electric blankets are fire hazards and may not be used in the Residence Halls.  Smoking is prohibited in all campus buildings. Over-door hangers may not be attached to door, nor may hangers be placed over closet edges or hung from picture moldings. Tapestries and other articles may not be hung on light fixtures.  Policy prohibits any Items being cooked in the residence hall kitchens being left unattended.  Decorative lights may not be hung in the Residence Halls. To comply with the City of Allentown fire ordinances, students may only decorate the upper ½ of their room doors (50% of the door above the door knob) and no items are to be posted on the door frames or on the wall around the doors.  Tapestries and lights are strictly prohibited on door, door frames and walls.  The college reserves the right to remove any decorations that do not comply with the City of Allentown fire ordinances or college regulations.  Any violation of college regulations may result in a fine up to $300 and/or other sanctions as warranted. 

Minimum sanctions for fire hazard violations are as follows: 
First offense = $100 fine and Residence Hall probation.
Second offense = $200 fine and Residence Hall probation.
Third offense = $300 fine and residence hall eviction

Note: additional sanctions ranging from warnings to expulsion may apply.

Inspection, testing, and maintenance programs for fire sprinkler, fire/smoke detection, and fire alarm systems are performed on an annual basis. Training and competency of State Certified personnel responsible for the routine inspection, testing and maintenance of fire sprinkler, fire/smoke detectors and alarm systems is handled by the certified contractors hired to perform these inspections.  The Residence Halls are also inspected annually by the City of Allentown Fire Inspector.

Newly constructed residential facilities as well as those that undergo reconstruction, as defined by the building code of Pennsylvania, must have sprinkler systems and complete fire and smoke detection and alarm systems. There are no sprinklers in the current Residence Halls.  All existing Cedar Crest College Residence Halls have fully integrated fire and smoke detection and alarm systems, including pull stations, alarm panels (connected to Campus Police), hoses and both heat and smoke detectors. Residence Hall capacities are as follows:

Butz Hall -  187 beds
Curtis Hall - 68 beds
Moore Hall - 148 beds
Steinbright Hall - 144 beds

When a Residence Hall integrated fire and smoke detection system is activated, alarms are sounded in the building, and the Campus Police Office. The alarm is not sent directly to the Allentown Fire department and in the event of an actual fire, Campus Police will notify the Allentown Fire Department.  If the alarm is not activated by an actual fire, the Campus Police officers will determine the nature of the alarm and will notify the switchboard operator, who will then clear the alarm without initiating a response from the Allentown Fire Department. In the event of an actual fire, the Allentown Fire department will be notified to respond to the call.

The campus will voluntarily submit campus fire reports to the City of Allentown. Statistics concerning the following Residence Hall fire incidents are maintained by Campus Police.