Facilities, Infrastructure and Risk Management (FIRM)
Facilities Management & Campus Services
TO: Shutdown Group, All Facility Coordinators, Multiple Buildings
FROM: Service Response Center
SUBJECT: 2026 Summer Fire & Evacuation Drill Schedule
To promote fire safety awareness and preparedness in compliance with local fire codes, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) has prepared the attached fire and evacuation drill schedule. The schedule lists the dates, times, and specific academic and administrative buildings for each drill.
We appreciate your full cooperation; participation in the drills is mandatory for everyone present when the drill starts. You will hear a siren/horn and/or voice command announcement to evacuate the building over the fire alarm system. The expected duration of each drill will be 10-20 minutes. We understand these drills may disrupt your schedule and appreciate your patience with the inconvenience.
To safely evacuate the building, please follow these directions anytime a fire alarm sounds:
• Listen to the Alarm: When the alarm sounds, treat it as a real emergency and react immediately by evacuating in a safe and orderly manner.
• Gather Belongings: If needed, shut off any heat sources or equipment, quickly gather personal belongings (i.e., keys, purse, bag) and proceed to the nearest exit.
• Evacuation is Mandatory: You must exit the building whenever the alarm sounds. Smoke or flames may not be visible from your room, but a fire could be active in another part of the structure.
• Know Two Ways Out: It is important to know two ways out of every building. The path that you use every day to come and go could be inaccessible due to smoke and/or fire. In the event of a fire, never use an elevator – always take the stairs.
• Move to a Safe Area: If an evacuation occurs, do not congregate near the doors once you are outside. Proceed to the building’s assembly area or a safe location away from the building and out of the way of emergency responders.
• Wait for the “All-Clear”: Do not re-enter the building until given an all-clear by the fire department or university official such as a CMU PD officer.
• ADA Assistance: If you cannot self-evacuate, shelter in place or move to a safe, enclosed stairwell. Tell someone your location so they can inform EHS drill staff. If you are unsure whether the alarm is just a drill, call University Police immediately at 412-268-2323 with your location and situation. For questions regarding evacuation accommodations, employees are encouraged to contact HR-Disability Services, and students to contact the Office of Disability Resources.
• Listen to the Alarm: When the alarm sounds, treat it as a real emergency and react immediately by evacuating in a safe and orderly manner.
• Gather Belongings: If needed, shut off any heat sources or equipment, quickly gather personal belongings (i.e., keys, purse, bag) and proceed to the nearest exit.
• Evacuation is Mandatory: You must exit the building whenever the alarm sounds. Smoke or flames may not be visible from your room, but a fire could be active in another part of the structure.
• Know Two Ways Out: It is important to know two ways out of every building. The path that you use every day to come and go could be inaccessible due to smoke and/or fire. In the event of a fire, never use an elevator – always take the stairs.
• Move to a Safe Area: If an evacuation occurs, do not congregate near the doors once you are outside. Proceed to the building’s assembly area or a safe location away from the building and out of the way of emergency responders.
• Wait for the “All-Clear”: Do not re-enter the building until given an all-clear by the fire department or university official such as a CMU PD officer.
• ADA Assistance: If you cannot self-evacuate, shelter in place or move to a safe, enclosed stairwell. Tell someone your location so they can inform EHS drill staff. If you are unsure whether the alarm is just a drill, call University Police immediately at 412-268-2323 with your location and situation. For questions regarding evacuation accommodations, employees are encouraged to contact HR-Disability Services, and students to contact the Office of Disability Resources.
For more information about the fire safety services provided by EHS, please visit this webpage – Fire Safety – Environmental Health & Safety – Enterprise Risk Management – Carnegie Mellon University
Thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have questions regarding proper procedures for your area, please contact EHS or send an email to safety@andrew.cmu.edu.
FY-26-27-Fire-Evacuation-Drill-Summer-Schedule-1.pdf