Cooking Safety

• Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stove. Turn off the stove, even if you leave the kitchen for a brief time.
• Wear short, close-fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
• Position barbecue grills at least 10 feet away from siding and deck railings, and out from under leaves and overhanging branches. 
• Always keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
• Grease fires typically occur when oil or fats reach their ignition point and come into contact with an open flame, leading to a rapid and potentially dangerous combustion.
  • When dealing with grease fires, never use water. Instead, cover the flames with a lid or metal baking sheet and turn off the heat source to safely extinguish the fire. If the fire doesn't extinguish, exit the house and call 911 or UMPD at 413-545-3111.

---

Space Heaters

Space heaters are permitted on campus, however they must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Space heaters must be fan-driven and electrically powered, not exceeding 120 volts. Heated coil, propane, and kerosene heaters are prohibited.
• The device must be UL listed, indicating it has been tested for safety and includes protective features to lessen the risk of burn or fire hazards. 
• It must be thermostatically controlled with an overheating automatic shutoff feature.
• It must be equipped with automatic shutoff if it is knocked over. 
• Space heaters must be plugged into a wall receptacle or surge protector. Do not plug space heaters into extension cords.
• All devices must be turned off when the area is unoccupied.
• It must be placed visibly and at least 3 feet from combustible materials. It should not touch other objects. 
• Hot plates and toaster ovens are not to be used as space heaters, they are permissible only for their intended uses.

If you are unsure about your campus space heater, you can request an inspection and consultation on fire prevention tips by submitting a Facilities & Campus Services Routine Maintenance Request.

---

Electrical & Appliance Safety

• Frayed wires can cause fires; replace all worn, old, or damaged appliance cords immediately. 
• Do not run cords under rugs or furniture.
• If an appliance has a 3-prong plug, it is only in a 3-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a 2-slot outlet or extension cord.
• Extension cords must be heavy gauge and are designed for temporary use, not to be used as a permanent or prolonged source of power.
• Do not daisy-chain cords, power strips, and/or surge protectors. Daisy-chaining is connecting several devices together - this can cause overloading and start a fire.
• If you are on campus and there are not enough outlets in your space, submit a Routine Maintenance Request and Facilities & Campus Services will explore additional options.

Whether it is for the holidays or simply to spruce up your living or work environment, it is crucial to adhere to fire safety guidelines when it comes to the use of lightning and decorations. 

The UMass community is prohibited from covering, obstructing, and tampering with any fire safety device or component, including smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual fire alarm pull stations, fire alarm control panels, sprinklers, and pipes. Extinguisher cabinets, emergency lights, and exit lights must not be covered at any time.

Learn more about Event Safety.

Residence Hall Decoration Guidelines

• UMass Housing Residents are responsible for complying with the fire safety policies outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. Additional information is also available in the Residence Hall & University Village Policies.
• Candles and incense, lit or unlit, are not permitted in any residence hall or apartment complex. Safe alternatives include flashlights and battery-operated candles.
• Natural trees, wreaths, corn stalks, hay, or other live decorations are fire hazards and are not permitted on doors or in rooms, suites, or apartments.

Additional decoration guidelines are provided below and apply to both residential space and office/work areas.

---

General Decoration Guidelines

• Corn stalks, leaves, and hay are combustible materials and are not permitted to be used as decoration
• Paper and plastic may be used sparingly in rooms, hallways, and corridors, but are not permitted in stairwells.
• The following decorations are permissible, but must be labeled, "fire-proof", "fire-resistant", or "flame-proof":
  • Garland, artificial trees, wreaths, tinsel, crape paper, streamers
• Lighting is permissible, however the original packaging should have a testing lab seal of approval. Lighting is prohibited on metallic trees. Holiday lights shall be turned off while unattended.
• Candles are discouraged from all locations. Safe alternatives, such as flashlights & battery-operated candles. 
  • Candles are prohibited in all residence halls.

Fire protection equipment plays a vital role in mitigating the impact of fire, protecting lives, and minimizing property damage. 

It is prohibited to cover, obstruct, and tamper with any campus fire safety device or component, including smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual fire alarm pull stations, fire alarm control panels, sprinklers, and pipes. Extinguisher cabinets, emergency lights, and exit lights must not be covered at any time.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are effective tools for containing and eliminating a small waste-basket sized fire. For larger fires, evacuate the building and call 911 or UMPD at 413-545-3111.

• Only use a fire extinguisher if you have been trained to do so. Considering attending a training or watching an instructional video.
  • Environmental Health & Safety conducts hands-on fire extinguisher training; to schedule a program, complete the EHS Training Request Form.
• Be sure the extinguisher type matches the fire class. Using the wrong extinguisher can be dangerous and exacerbate the fire. 
  • Type A: ordinary combustibles, such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics.
  • Type B: flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, grease, tar, oil-based paint, lacquer, and flammable gas.  
  • Type C: energized electrical equipment, including wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers, machinery, and appliances.   

When using a fire extinguisher, you can remember the acronym, PASS:

• Pull the pin.
• Aim low, at the base of the fire.
• Squeeze the handle the release the extinguishing agent.
• Sweep from side to side until the fire appears out, watching for re-ignition.

Always keep your extinguisher unobstructed. Report discharged, damaged, or missing campus fire extinguishers to Environmental Health & Safety at 413-545-2682 and complete the Fire Extinguisher Service Request.

The EHS Fire Safety Team is available upon request to host Fire Extinguisher Training with your residence hall, student organization, or department/school. Please contact AskEHS@umass.edu for more information.

---

Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms provide early detection of potential fires, allowing timely evacuation and intervention, serving as a fundamental component of comprehensive fire safety measures.

If you live off campus, consider these tips for ensuring your smoke alarms are working properly:

• Replace batteries twice a year, unless you are using 10-year lithium batteries.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement.
  • Replace smoke alarms every 10 years, or according to the manufacturer's instructions. 
• Never disable a smoke alarm while cooking. 

UMass Environmental Health & Safety publishes the following reports, in accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-315).

The Residential Fire Log is an ongoing catalog of fire incidents occurring in any on-campus student housing facility. A fire incident is defined as any instance of open flame or other burning in a place not intended to contain the burning or in an uncontrolled manner.

The Annual Fire Safety Report provides information regarding on-campus student housing fire-related incidents over the past 3 years & identifies the buildings/locations where fires have occurred.

---

2025 Residence Hall Fire Incident Log

2024 Residence Hall Fire Incident Log

2023 Annual Fire Safety Report