Fire Safety
Annual security report
Full Annual Security Report (PDF)
Fire safety training
Professional and student residence life staff are provided with annual fire safety training conducted by Mt. Vernon Fire Department. Training in fire evacuation procedures for residence life staff is provided annually. Resident fire safety education is conducted periodically.
Mandatory, supervised fire drills
Two per semester in each residence hall and two per semester in academic buildings. A total of eight scheduled fire drills are conducted each year.
Residence hall policies
For fire safety reasons, the college has restrictions on the use or possession of certain cooking appliances, candles, flammable liquids, and other such potential fire safety concerns. See The Compass for complete details.
In accordance with the State of Iowa Smoke free Air Act, smoking is prohibited at Cornell College. All indoor and outdoor spaces are smoke free. More information is available at Cornell College's Smoke free Iowa Air Act.
Students must exit any building immediately when a fire alarm sounds. The college expects all students to respect the fire safety systems that are in place. Failure to abide by these policies will result in conduct action as outlined in The Compass.
Staff protocol
Once the alarm is sounding proceed to the fire panel. Never silence the alarm.
First person to panel
This staff member is in charge of the evacuation procedures. Determine the location where the alarm has been activated. Do not leave the panel unless it is unsafe to remain in the building. Direct the RAs in the following order:
Second person to panel
Call Campus Safety at 319.895.4299 and then report back to the panel.
Third person to panel
Go to fire floor and attempt to find the reason the alarm went off (check smoke detector activation light and pull stations) If it is a real fire, get off the floor and call 911 (9-911 from campus phone) as soon as you have access to a telephone. Attempt to clear the floor at the same time if it is safe to do so. Report back to the fire panel and report reason for the alarm.
Fourth person to panel
Knock on doors above the fire floor. Then report back to the fire panel.
Fifth person to panel
Knock on doors below the fire floor. Then report back to the fire panel.
Sixth person to panel
Clear all public areas not previously cleared.
All other RAs
After building is cleared report back to fire panel then assist with crowd control.
Fire systems
| Building | Sprinkler System | Fire Notification System |
|---|---|---|
|
Bowman-Carter Hall |
Yes | Building equipped with audible and visual alarms. Campus Safety alerted via exterior strobes and horn. Mt. Vernon Fire Department contacted by Campus Safety. |
| Russell Hall | Yes | Building equipped with audible and visual alarms. Direct network connection from building to Campus Safety. Mt. Vernon Fire Department contacted by Campus Safety. |
| Pfeiffer Hall | Yes | Building equipped with audible and visual alarms. Direct network connection from building to Campus Safety. Mt. Vernon Fire Department contacted by Campus Safety. |
| Dows Hall | No | Building equipped with audible and visual alarms. Campus Safety alerted via exterior strobes and horn. Mt. Vernon Fire Department contacted by Campus Safety. |
| Tarr Hall | No | Building equipped with audible and visual alarms. Campus Safety alerted via exterior strobes and horn. Mt. Vernon Fire Department contacted by Campus Safety. |
| Pauley-Rorem Hall | No | Building equipped with audible and visual alarms. Campus Safety alerted via exterior strobes and horn. Mt. Vernon Fire Department contacted by Campus Safety. |
| Olin Hall | No | Building equipped with audible and visual alarms. Campus Safety alerted via exterior strobes and horn. Mt. Vernon Fire Department contacted by Campus Safety. |
| Merner Hall | Yes | Building equipped with audible and visual alarms. Campus Safety alerted via exterior strobes and horn. Mt. Vernon Fire Department contacted by Campus Safety. |
| 10th Ave apartments | No | Local smoke detectors. Mt. Vernon Fire Department contacted directly by residents. |
| Wilch Apartments | No | Local smoke detectors. Mt. Vernon Fire Department contacted directly by residents. |
Fire safety improvements
As residence halls are renovated or funds become available steps will be taken to equip buildings with sprinkler systems.
Fire statistics
- 2023: No residence hall fires
- 2022: No residence hall fires
- 2021: No residence hall fires