Duluth: Fire Safety Report and Statistics

The University of Minnesota Duluth has nine student housing facilities. Five are traditional style residence halls and four are apartment style facilities.

Traditional Residence Halls

Burntside Hall
1320 Maplewood Court, Duluth, MN, 55812

Griggs Hall
509 Niagara Court, Duluth, MN, 55812

Ianni Hall
506 Niagara Court, Duluth, MN, 55812

Lake Superior Hall
513 Niagara Court, Duluth, MN, 55812

Vermilion Hall
1105 Kirby Drive, Duluth, MN, 55812

Apartments

Junction Apartments
1115 Junction Avenue, Duluth, MN, 55812

Oakland Apartments
621 Oakland Circle, Duluth, MN, 55812

Goldfine Hall
1205 Village Lane, Duluth, MN, 55812

Heaney Hall
1220 Village Lane, Duluth, MN, 55812

All fires should be reported immediately by calling 911.

Any fire, fire alarm activation or sprinkler activation needs to be reported Housing & Residence Life. Typically, the first staff to be notified will be the Resident Advisors for the specific living area. An electronic monitoring system monitored by a contract vendor notifies 911 of the activated system.
 

Notes on Data

Fire Alarm Monitoring indicates if the fire alarms are monitored at a central location.

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

Evacuation Plan indicates if a location has evacuation plans for fire evacuation.

Fire Safety Equipment 

Tampering with fire/life safety equipment, including Smoke Detectors, Fire Doors, Fire Extinguishers, Sprinklers, and AEDs may create a serious safety hazard. People who tamper with the equipment will be referred for University conduct action and/or civil prosecution. Violation of this policy may result in termination of the student's Housing & Residence Life contract.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are installed for the protection and safety of students living in University housing facilities. Housing & Residence Life staff test smoke detectors on a regular basis to ensure they are operational.

Fire Doors

Do not prop fire doors. Fire code requires that fire doors (stairwell doors, building entrance/exit doors) not connected to the fire alarm system be closed at all times. Fire doors with electromagnetic holders (part of the fire alarm system) will release and close automatically when an alarm sounds.

Fire Extinguishers

Each hallway is equipped with a fire extinguisher for the safety and protection of students. If an extinguisher is used to put out a fire, the students must report the incident to their RAs. Housing & Residence Life conducts inspections of fire extinguishers periodically.

Sprinklers

All residence halls and apartments have sprinklers for additional fire safety. Students are NOT PERMITTED to hang anything from or tamper with the sprinkler system; doing so may impede their function and/or cause the system to activate. Students may be billed for the full costs of any damage resulting from misuse of the sprinkler system.

Automated External Defibrillators (AED)

Automated External Defibrillators or AEDs are life-saving devices to treat victims of sudden cardiac arrest. AEDs are located in the lobby or adjacent building lobby areas in the residence halls and apartments.

Locations of AEDs in Residence Halls and Apartments

Lake Superior Hall - Outside of the Info Desk Main Lobby
Ianni Hall - 1st Floor Across from the Elevators
Oakland A - Main Lobby Left of the Office
Oakland B - Across from the Office in Basswood
Junction B - By the Mail Boxes 
Goldfine Hall - Goldfine B Main Lobby to the left of the Office
Heaney Hall - 1st Floor Near Elevator
Heaney Hall Service Center - First floor by the water fountain 

The following appliances are permitted depending on living unit type.
 

The following appliances are prohibited in ALL housing facilities. Students who bring prohibited appliances will be referred to the Housing & Residence Life conduct process.

• Hot tubs
• Tanning beds
• Grills (charcoal & gas)
• Institutional grade appliances
• Dishwashers
• Washer & dryers
• Space heaters (unless provided by HRL maintenance staff)
• Air conditioners & swamp coolers (see air conditioner section)
• Dehumidifiers
• Ceiling fans

Fire Safety Policy In HRL Guidebook 

All residents are expected to observe the following fire safety regulations: 

• Candles, incense, wax melters or warmers and open flames are not allowed in residential facilities (See “Smudging” section for exceptions).
• Smoke detectors are to be connected, operational and not covered at all times
• Hanging anything from sprinkler heads and sprinkler pipes is prohibited
• Hoverboards, motorbikes, E-bikes (including detachable E-bike batteries), or other motorized vehicles are not allowed in Housing & Residence Life facilities
• Access to windows, smoke detectors or doorways is to be unobstructed
• Items posted on room door may not exceed 20 percent of the door’s surface
• Fabric (such as sheets, blankets, flags, tapestries, plastic banners etc.) may not be hung in front of doors or hung from or affixed to light fixtures
• Halogen lamps and bulbs are not permitted
• Lighter fluid, blow torches, compressed gas tanks or gas cans are not allowed in Housing & Residence Life facilities
• Students must not leave food items that are being cooked unattended
• See “Appliances” section for which appliances are restricted from residential facilities

Smoking

In accordance with the University of Minnesota Smoke and Tobacco-free campus policy, all Housing & Residence Life facilities are 100% smoke-free environments. Smoking and tobacco use is not allowed. In Housing & Residence Life, smoking is defined as having a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or any other smoking equipment, including the use of electronic cigarettes, vaporizers, and hookahs. Students documented for violations of the above in Housing & Residence Life facilities will be adjudicated in the Housing conduct process.

In the event of a building alarm, fire departments cannot begin their job until everyone is out of the building. Failing to leave the building puts others at risk. In compliance with Minnesota State Fire Code and state law, everyone is required to leave the building in the event of a building alarm. If a fire alarm sounds, residents must leave the building in alarm via the nearest exit. (Residents who do not comply with evacuation are subject to conduct sanctions).

In the event of a fire, evacuate and call 911.

• Feel the door before you open it. If the door does not feel hot, open it slightly, holding your head away and brace the door with your foot
• Put your hand across the opening to test the heat of the air
• If the door is hot and the hallway unsafe, plug any openings or cracks through which smoke may enter your room using wet towels, sheets, blankets, etc.
• If smoke does enter the room, open the window for ventilation; break it if sealed
• DO NOT JUMP
• Make your presence known
• Wait for rescue

UMD Housing & Residence Life staff receive training in use of fire extinguishers and fire safety on an annual basis.

Resident Advisors review fire safety and fire evacuation procedures at floor and area meetings at the beginning of fall semester.

Fire evacuation drills are coordinated between UMD Housing & Residence Life, UMD Environmental Health and Safety, and the Duluth Fire Department at the beginning of each fall semester.

Housing & Residential Life works closely with University code officials to review current systems and plan for future improvements. There are currently no plans deemed necessary for improvements in fire safety systems or procedures.

Students aged 18 and above and emancipated minors

Student residents will be given the opportunity to designate an individual or individuals to be contacted by the University no more than 24 hours after the time that the student resident is determined to be missing. A designation will remain in effect until changed or revoked by the student resident via email to [email protected] or until the student is no longer a resident of University housing.

Students under the age of 18 and not emancipated

In the event a student resident who is under age 18, not emancipated, and is determined to be missing, the University is required to notify custodial parent or guardian no more than 24 hours after the student resident is determined to be missing. The custodial parent or guardian contact information will remain in effect throughout the duration of the contract period for which they signed when under the age of 18 unless the student turns 18 during the contract period and contacts the Office of Housing and Residential Life to change or revoke the designation.

This contact information will be registered confidentially and will only be accessible to campus officials and will only be disclosed to law enforcement personnel in the furtherance of a missing person’s investigation.

In the case of a missing student, individuals should notify the University of Minnesota Duluth Police Department or Housing & Residence Life staff members.

Official notification procedures for missing persons

Any individual on campus who has information that a University student resident may be a missing person must notify the UMD Police Department as soon as possible. It shall be the policy of the University of Minnesota Duluth that any of its agents that receive information on a missing student resident will report it to the UMD Police Department within twenty-four (24) hours of the determination that the student is missing. This will be done regardless of whether or not the student resident has designated a contact person, is over the age of 18, or is an emancipated minor.

If a report of a potential missing person is made to UMD Housing, staff will immediately contact (call 911) and work cooperatively with the UMD Police Department in its investigation of the matter. Cooperative efforts may include:

• Conduct a health and wellness check on the resident
• Attempt to make contact via cellular phone, e-mail, or other means
• Identify other students who may be aware of the missing person’s whereabouts (i.e. roommate, friends,
  classmates, family, etc.).
• Checking attendance at class or on-campus employment, use of meal plan, etc.

The UMD Police Department will gather all essential information about the University student resident from the reporting person and other individuals who may provide information that will assist with the investigation.

No later than 24 hours after the University determines that a student resident is missing, the chief law enforcement officer on campus or designee will notify the designated missing person contact (for students 18 and above and emancipated minors) or the parent/guardian (for students under the age of 18 and not emancipated) that the student resident is believed to be missing. This individual contact will be updated as to the progress of the investigation into the missing person report.