Fire Wardens

Duties of an established Fire Warden

Every tenant is to assign a Fire Warden.  The Fire Warden must be someone who is organized and can keep themselves calm in an emergency situation.

Tenant Preparation

1. The Fire Warden should be familiar with all employees with evacuation procedures.

2. The Fire Warden must notify building management of any employee who might need special assistance in evacuation the building, and assign an employee to assist him or her in the event of an emergency. The Fire Warden must keep this list and building management updated.

3. The Fire Warden may be asked to meet on occasion with building management to review the emergency procedures.

4. Be familiar with the Evacuation Plan as it applies to your suite, and have Evacuation Plans available too all employees.

5. Complete and post a diagram of the nearest exit visible to all employees.

6. Know where fire alarms and exits are located.

Fire Prevention

Each Fire Warden must periodically review the following points and report shortcomings to the building management, where needed.

1. Make periodic checks to prevent the accumulation of combustible materials in your suite.  
   Check monthly on the availability and conditions of all fire fighting appliances and hose, (if applicable) in the cabinets in your suite. Please note:  Each tenant is responsible to assure that his or her fire extinguisher up to date and in working order.

2. Make periodic inspections of the work areas within your suite. This will eliminate any possible fires from occurring.

3. Prevent accumulation of items in the stairwells that could impede evacuation and make periodic checks to ensure that stairwells doors are never blocked, so they are fully able to close. During an alarm, the door must stay closed.

4. Eliminate tripping hazards from the suite i.e. extension cords, loose carpeting, etc.

Fire Warden Duties during a Fire Evacuation

In case of fire, Fire Warden’s leadership will receive one of its most severe tests.  To Fire Warden will be looked to for direction and be expected to set an example for calmness and orderliness in the evacuation of personnel.

In case of fire, the floor on which the fire occurs, the two floors above and floor below the fire is to evacuate immediately.  It will also be necessary in the event of a large fire to evacuate more floors so the firefighters will have a place from which to work from.  The affected floors would be notified by the sounding of the alarm on those floors.

The evacuation in case of fire should always be downward.  In case of fire, it must be strongly stressed, that evacuation must be via the stairwells and not by the elevators.  The stairwells are your safest haven, fire
proof and safe from smoke, providing the doors are not blocked open.

Step 1. In case of fire in your area, remove anyone from immediate danger, and then go to the nearest fire alarm pull station on your floor.

Step 2.  Pull handle.  This will cause alarm to sound. Notify the Tampa fire department by dialing 911. Should you have a cell phone, please contact the building management at 281-1110.

Step 3 Only use fire extinguishers in case of a small fire.  Remember only a trained and certified person can use the fire extinguisher. Do not waste time.  Sound the alarm first.

Step 4 The designated Fire Warden should check to see that all personnel in their suite has evacuated. The Fire Wardens need to check the bathroom, closets, utility rooms, etc.

Step 5 The Fire Warden must have the list of people they are in charge of and make sure your people are accounted for, if any are missing let the Fire Department know.  The Fire Warden will want to assign a meeting place for all of their employees to assure a faster and a more organize way of finding everyone.

Step 6 You are the last person to leave the floor, make sure all doors are closed.  This slows the fire down.  

If caught in smoke, take short breaths, breath through your nose, and crawl to escape; air is better near the floor