Recent fires in high-rise buildings on the East Coast have resulted in injuries and tragic loss of life.

With the closing of Christiana Towers in 2019, the University of Delaware no longer has high-rise residence halls, but there are high-rise academic and laboratory buildings on campus as well as high-rise apartments off-campus where occupants should be aware of evacuation plans and safety guidelines.

All UD high-rise buildings are fully sprinkler protected, have monitored fire detection and alarm systems, smoke control systems to aid with safe evacuation, fire-rated stairwells, areas of refuse to assist occupants with handicaps and self-closing fire doors to limit the ability of smoke and fire to travel through the building.

“Recent fires in the news were lacking many of these features, which contributed to occupants being exposed to smoke and fire and preventing many from safely evacuating,” Kevin McSweeney, UD fire marshal in Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), said.

“It's important to remember that the fire safety features of UD high-rise buildings can be defeated due to occupant actions, such as propping doors open, storing materials in stairwells and egress corridors, and storing flammable and combustible materials improperly,” McSweeney said.

If such conditions are observed in a campus building, reporting them immediately is crucial to maintaining safety, he added. For any UD-owned buildings, call 302-831-1141 to report damage to stair and corridor doors; doors not closing or latching properly; or doors being propped open. Other causes of recent fires, including using space heaters and use of combustible decorations, are regulated by UD policies and fire regulations.

EHS works with safety committees to schedule inspections and surveys, as well as fire drills held at least annually. Fire safety training with departments working in high-rises can be scheduled and is encouraged.

FEMA recently distributed a poster highlighting key information with steps that people in high-rises can take to stay safe.