Top 4 takeaways from TMU’s fire drills
Last month TMU conducted annual fire drills in TMU-operated buildings. These drills are required by the Ontario Fire Code and provide an opportunity for the community to rehearse evacuations in case of real emergencies. They also help identify areas of improvement that may require additional planning or accommodation.
If you were on campus when a fire drill took place, thank you for your participation.
Observations and recommendations for personal safety
Overall, the 2025 fire drills were executed successfully! From the time of fire alarm initiation, total building evacuation typically took approximately 15 minutes. This average takes into account buildings of different sizes and occupancy rates. Our overall evacuation rate is a good standard rate and demonstrates our orderly, incident-free and cooperative community effort.
While we were pleased by the evacuation timeline, we are also sharing some key observations and reminders to support safety in the event of a fire on campus.
Move away from the building after evacuating
Our drills showed community members congregating on sidewalks, which risks impeding access for emergency services and blocking exits.
After exiting, please move a minimum of 15 metres (50 feet) away. If crossing the street, use crosswalks and traffic lights.
Exit using enclosed “emergency exit” stairwells
Follow "exit" signage that lead to enclosed stairwells with alpha-numeric signage.
Do not use “convenience stairs”, like the grand staircases of the Student Learning Centre or Daphne Cockwell Centre.
Convenience stairs are open and exposed to smoke, heat or other hazards whereas enclosed exit stairwells lead directly outside and offer more protection from fire and smoke.
Stop work and follow lab or workshop emergency shutdown procedures
When the alarm sounds, all class lab and work activities must immediately stop. Students, faculty and staff using equipment or materials should familiarize themselves with safe shutdown or emergency-stop procedures.
Participate in fire drills — don’t stay behind
Practice makes perfect. Knowing what to do without hesitation when the alarm activates is critical to ensuring your life safety and those of your colleagues in the event of an actual emergency.
Evacuation is a personal safety responsibility
During drills TMU Security provides a floor-by-floor check of the building to gauge participation and reinforce training. However, in the event of a real emergency a floor-by-floor check cannot take place and so it’s important that you do not rely on this.
Building occupants are responsible for following the procedures and accommodations to evacuate themselves to safety. For more information on roles and responsibilities for employees who need additional support, or faculty or contract lecturers with students who may require assistance, take advantage of TMU’s recently released Emergency Management website for guidance.
TMU’s annual fire drills are your best, first-hand opportunity to learn about your building’s systems, which exits are the closest to your workspace and what to do in a fire. Thank you for participating and we look forward to success again next year!
Questions or concerns?
For specific questions about the annual fire drills, please contact Dan Dixon, facilities engineer, at dan.dixon@torontomu.ca.
For general questions, please contact the Facilities Help Desk at fixit@torontomu.ca or 416-979-5091.
For urgent after-hours concerns, please contact TMU Toronto Campus Security at 416-979-5040 or security@torontomu.ca; or TMU Brampton Campus Security at 416-598-5950 or somsecurity@torontomu.ca. In the case of an emergency, dial 911.