Annual Fire Safety Report & Residence Hall Fire Safety Policies: 2025

The Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act became federal law as part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. The law requires colleges and universities that maintain on-campus student housing to collect and maintain fire-related data, report required information to the federal government, and publish an Annual Fire Safety Report. This report provides students, parents, employees, and the public with important information regarding fire incidents, fire safety systems, policies, and procedures associated with on-campus student housing.

The following report has been prepared and made available to the Wesleyan University community in accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act and applicable regulations established by the U.S. Department of Education.

Fire Reporting Policy - Manual Pull Stations - Fire Evacuation Policy - Fire Alarm and Evacuation Procedures - Fire Safety Policies - Fire Safety Inspections - Fire Drills - Education and Training Programs - Alarm Activation Log - Fire Safety Systems - Fire Statistics

Fire Reporting Policy

In the event of a fire or other emergency on campus, immediately contact the Office of Public Safety at 860-685-3333 or Campus Extension 3333, or call 911. When calling 911 from a cell phone, the call will be routed directly to the 911 Central Dispatch Center.  

Manual Pull Stations

Manual pull stations are provided to allow building occupants to manually activate the fire alarm system when a fire or other fire-related emergency is discovered. If you see fire or smoke, or detect signs of a fire, activate the nearest manual pull station immediately. Do not wait for the automatic fire alarm system to activate. Evacuate the building promptly and, once in a safe location, contact Public Safety at 860-685-3333 or call 911 to report the emergency.

Manual pull stations are generally located along designated egress routes and near exits in buildings equipped with a fire alarm system.

Fire Evacuation Policy

In the event of a fire alarm activation, all occupants must immediately evacuate the building using the nearest safe exit. Do not use elevators.

Once outside, proceed to the designated meeting area for your building and remain there until further instructions are provided. Resident Advisors (RAs) and House Managers (HMs) are responsible for communicating the location of the designated meeting area to the residents of the buildings for which they are responsible.

If information regarding the fire, smoke, or other emergencies is known, report it from a safe location by calling 911 or the Office of Public Safety at 860-685-3333.

Once evacuated, follow all instructions provided by the Middletown Fire Department and/or Public Safety Officers. Do not re-enter the building until authorized to do so by the Middletown Fire Department or Public Safety.

Fire Alarm and Evacuation Procedures

When a fire alarm system is activated, the alarm signal may be transmitted in one of two ways:

1. Monitoring Company Notification: The fire alarm system transmits a signal to the University’s fire alarm monitoring company, which then notifies the Middletown Fire Department (MFD) and Wesleyan University Public Safety. Public Safety is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
2. Direct Fire Department Notification: In some buildings, the fire alarm system transmits the alarm signal directly to the Middletown Fire Department.

Upon notification of a fire alarm, Public Safety officers respond to the location to assist with evacuation, building access, and other safety procedures and to support the responding fire department.

The following procedures must be followed each time a fire alarm sounds:

• Do not ignore the alarm. Everyone must evacuate the building immediately.
• Remain calm and evacuate in a safe and orderly manner.
• Do not delay evacuation to collect personal belongings. If shoes, appropriate clothing, and keys are immediately accessible, take them with you as you leave.
• Use the nearest safe exit and proceed directly to your designated meeting area. Do not use elevators.
• Once outside, report any known information about the fire, smoke, or cause of the alarm to the Middletown Fire Department (MFD) and/or Public Safety.
• Notify MFD and/or Public Safety if you believe someone who was in the building has not evacuated or is otherwise unaccounted for. Do not re-enter the building to look for them.
• Remain at the designated meeting area and follow all instructions from MFD and/or Public Safety.
• Do not re-enter the building until authorized to do so by MFD or Public Safety.
• The silencing of the fire alarm does not mean that the emergency is over or that it is safe to re-enter the building.

Fire Safety Policies

Residents must not cover, disable, remove, disconnect, obstruct, or otherwise tamper with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, manual pull stations, horn/strobe notification devices, sprinkler heads or piping, fire extinguishers, or any other fire and life safety equipment. Tampering with fire and life safety equipment may result in points and other applicable disciplinary action.

Because of fire and life safety risks, the following items and activities are prohibited in student rooms and common areas, including porches and balconies, unless otherwise specifically permitted by University policy:

• Candles: Candles of any kind, including decorative candles, are prohibited.
• Incense: All forms of incense, including sticks, cones, and similar products, are prohibited.
• Smoking Materials: Smoking and the disposal of used smoking materials are prohibited within 25 feet of University buildings.
• Extension Cords: Ungrounded, two-prong extension cords are prohibited. Only grounded, three-prong extension cords and approved power strips with overcurrent protection are permitted.
• Plug Adapters: Adapters that convert three-prong plugs to two-prong plugs are prohibited.
• Tapestries and Similar Materials: Tapestries and other prohibited combustible decorative materials may not be hung on walls or ceilings. Refer to the Campus Fire Safety website for additional information regarding prohibited items.
• Halogen Lamps: Standing and desk lamps that use halogen bulbs are prohibited.
• Portable Heaters: Portable electric heaters and space heaters are prohibited.
• Cooking Appliances: Appliances containing heating elements, including hot plates, electric frying pans or woks, toasters, toaster ovens, waffle makers, electric grills, popcorn poppers, rice cookers, and similar appliances, are prohibited in student rooms and common areas. Cooking appliances may be used in designated kitchens in apartments, wood-frame houses, and program houses.
• Coffee Makers and Electric Kettles: Coffee makers and electric kettles are permitted only when equipped with an automatic shut-off feature.
• Charcoal and Gas Grills: Charcoal and gas grills may not be used or stored inside University-owned residences or on porches or balconies.
• Vaporizers: Vaporizers that use heating elements to diffuse aromatherapy herbs, oils, or similar materials are prohibited.
• Open-Flame Devices and Combustible Fuels: Open-flame devices, including tiki torches and kerosene or propane lamps, are prohibited. Combustible fuels, including gasoline, lighter fluid, charcoal lighter fluid, and torch fuel, may not be stored in student residences.
• Open Burning: Bonfires, campfires, fire pits, and other forms of open burning are prohibited.
• Explosives and Fireworks: Explosives, ammunition, incendiary devices, and fireworks are prohibited in student residences.
• Mercury Thermometers: Mercury thermometers are prohibited in student residences because of the environmental and cleanup hazards associated with mercury spills.
• Smoke and Fog Machines: Devices that produce artificial smoke, fog, or similar effects are prohibited.
• Hoverboards, Electric Scooters, and Similar Devices: Hoverboards and other battery-powered scooters, bicycles, or similar personal transportation devices are prohibited where specified by University policy due to potential battery and charging-related fire hazards.
• Wax Warmers: Electric wax warmers and similar devices are prohibited because of the potential for overheating, electrical hazards, and burns from heated wax.
• String Lights: String lights may not be routed through windows or doors or attached to, hung from, or otherwise interfere with fire and life safety equipment.

For additional information regarding prohibited items and fire safety requirements, refer to the Campus Fire Safety website at www.wesleyan.edu/firesafety. 

Fire Safety Inspections

University staff may conduct unannounced inspections of student rooms throughout the academic year to identify fire and life safety violations and other prohibited items. Residents will receive points for each applicable violation, and prohibited items may be confiscated.

Candles, incense, and prohibited extension cords will not be returned. Residents should contact Campus Fire Safety regarding the disposition or retrieval of other items confiscated for fire safety violations.

Following an inspection, a written notice or receipt will be provided to the resident or left in the room identifying fire and life safety violations and any other unauthorized items discovered during the inspection.

If University staff discover other prohibited or unauthorized items during an inspection, including weapons, illegal drugs, or other items prohibited by the Code of Non-Academic Conduct, the inspector will contact Public Safety for appropriate action. Questions regarding the disposition or retrieval of these items should be directed at Public Safety or the Office of the Dean of Students, as appropriate.

Fire Drills

Supervised fire drills are conducted in each residence hall twice during the academic year, generally once each semester. Fire drills are supervised by representatives from the Middletown Fire Marshal’s Office, Residential Life, and Campus Fire Safety.

All residents are expected to evacuate the building promptly when the fire alarm sounds and follow established evacuation procedures, regardless of whether the alarm is part of a scheduled or unannounced fire drill.

Fire Safety Education and Training Programs

All residents are required to attend a meeting in their residence at the beginning of the academic year. During these meetings, residents receive information regarding fire safety policies, emergency evacuation procedures, designated meeting areas, and applicable residential rules and regulations.

All students living in university housing are required to sign a housing contract, which incorporates the University’s Fire Safety Guidelines. Students are responsible for complying with these requirements while residing in university housing.

Students are also encouraged to review the Code of Non-Academic Conduct and other applicable University policies contained in the Student Handbook, available online at www.wesleyan.edu/studenthandbook.All residents are required to attend a meeting in their residence hall at the beginning of the school year to discuss fire safety, fire evacuation plans, and rules and regulations of the residence hall.

Head Residents (HRs), Resident Advisors (RAs), House Managers (HMs), and Community Advisors (CAs), under the supervision of professional Area Coordinators (ACs), participate in training before the beginning of the academic year. This training includes instruction on fire safety policies, fire alarm and evacuation procedures, emergency response expectations, and other residential safety responsibilities.

The Campus Fire Safety Department offers hands-on fire extinguisher training to students, faculty, and staff throughout the academic year. The training uses a BullEx fire extinguisher training system, which provides participants with an opportunity to practice the proper use of a portable fire extinguisher in a controlled training environment.

Training emphasizes the proper and safe use of portable fire extinguishers and reinforces appropriate emergency response procedures.

Fire Alarm Activation Log

The Department of Campus Fire Safety, in conjunction with Public Safety, maintains records of fire alarm activations and fires occurring on campus. These records include, as applicable, the date of the incident, building name and address, type of alarm, cause or reason for the activation, contact information, incident notes, injuries, and estimated value of property damage. Records are maintained chronologically by the date of the incident.

Following a fire alarm activation or fire incident, Public Safety prepares an incident report and forwards the report to the Department of Campus Fire Safety. Campus Fire Safety reviews the information and enters the applicable data into the fire alarm records.

Fire Safety Systems

Information regarding fire protection and life safety systems in university residential properties is maintained in a database by the Department of Campus Fire Safety.

All residence halls are equipped with fire alarm systems that transmit alarm signals either to a fire alarm monitoring company or directly to the Middletown Fire Department (MFD).

Certain University-owned wood-frame residential properties are equipped with monitored fire alarm systems and automatic sprinkler systems. Other wood-frame residential properties are equipped with local smoke alarms in bedrooms and common areas. Detailed information regarding the fire protection systems installed in individual residential properties is maintained by the Department of Campus Fire Safety.

University residential buildings are also equipped with portable fire extinguishers in designated locations, including kitchens and mechanical spaces, as applicable.

The following residence halls are equipped with monitored fire alarm systems and automatic sprinkler systems:

Fire Statistics

Plans for future improvements in fire safety

Wesleyan University will continue to evaluate, upgrade, and enhance fire protection and life safety systems in campus buildings, including installing and improving fire alarm and automatic sprinkler systems, as appropriate.

The Department of Campus Fire Safety, in collaboration with the Middletown Fire Department (MFD) and other University departments, will continue to provide fire safety education and training opportunities for students, faculty, and staff.

Wesleyan University will also continue to support training and familiarization opportunities for the Middletown Fire Department on campus. These activities help responding personnel become familiar with campus buildings and support effective emergency response.