Being prepared for our local hazards is crucial to your safety when an emergency or disaster happens. This section focuses on what to do if there is a fire and provides resources for those impacted by fire and wildfires.
How to be prepared
Information about how to prepare and what to do when a fire occurs.
Make a kit
Make a plan
Stay informed/get notified
Note the location of alarms and extinguishers.
Clear obstructed corridors, aisles and room exits.
If a door is permanently blocked, label it as no access.
Use only grounded electrical outlets.
Do not use an extension cord for permanent use.
Do not use mechanical rooms, or utility rooms, or stairwells for storage or block the entrance to these rooms.
Know the location of the emergency exits and stairwells and have a strategy for evacuating.
In laboratories, teach students about fire safety first thing.
Practice. During a fire drill, immediately evacuate the building you are in.
Report strange smells which could be smoke or electrical overload.
Practice and familiarize yourself with all escape routes.
Activate the nearest fire alarm pull station.
Feel doors for heat. If cool, exit carefully. If hot, do not open the door. Stay where you are until help arrives. If a telephone is available, call 911 and describe the emergency and your location. Place cloth material around the bottom of the door to prevent smoke from entering. Close as many doors as possible between you and the fire. Be prepared to signal from a window, but do not break glass unless necessary since outside smoke could enter your room.
If caught in smoke, drop to your hands and knees and crawl as you exit. Hold your breath a long as possible. Breathe shallowly through your nose and use clothing as a filter.
If you see fire, confine it by closing doors and windows.
Start an orderly evacuation (even for small fires, a closed room can reach 1500 degrees within three minutes).
From a safe location call 911 from a campus telephone.
Use extinguishers on small fires only if it is safe to do so and when there is no personal risk. When operating a fire extinguisher, remember P-A-S-S: Pull the pin; Aim at the base of the fire; Squeeze the lever; Sweep from side to side.
Never use an elevator during a fire.
In laboratories, follow the fire safety training provided by the instructor or other department personnel.
If your clothing catches fire - STOP, DROP AND ROLL to extinguish the flames.
University of Nevada, Reno resources
Counseling services
During this stressful time, please know mental health resources are available. If you are in of need a supportive professional to talk to in a confidential environment, counseling services is here for you
Contact:775-784-4648
Office of the Dean of Students
The Dean of Students Office is your resource when you don’t know where to start in terms of need and support. The Dean of Student’s Office can serve as your referral to campus departments and programs.
Contact: 775-682-6846
Office of residential life, housing, and food services
The Office of residential life, housing, and food services staff will work with you during your transition to the Reno area. Professional and student staff are available to answer questions and can assist with navigating University of Nevada, Reno resources and the community.
The Student health center has licensed physicians and nurse practitioners as well as psychiatric services that can assist with physical and mental health care needs. Many services are included as a student with our university.
Contact:775-784-6598
General resources
Wildfire updates
Click on the state below to be directed to information, resources, and updates available:
Smoke has inundated the Reno metro area and air quality ranges from moderate to hazardous. For the latest air quality information go to AirNow.gov.
FEMA disaster assistance
FEMA disaster assistance is available for those affected by the wildfires. Apply by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov, calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA app.
Grab and go tips
Prepare your own go-kit and keep it by your door, Include the following:
Prescription medicine
Eye care
Cellphone and charger
Wallet with copies of ID and spare cash
Change of clothes (including socks and change of underwear
Jacket (or warm layer)
Laptop and charger
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Full water bottle
Snacks
Flashlight
Entertainment items that do not require electricity (reading materials, cards, etc.)
Toiletries (deodorant, soap, band aids, lotion, etc.)
Valuable as they may be, the following items are not worth risking your life over:
Sentimental items
A large bag or container filled with your possessions
Emergency supply kit
In a disaster, you may need to survive on your own for up to three days before emergency services can assist you. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies for you and your family for at least three days. Although emergency responders and local relief agencies will be working hard on scene following a disaster, they may be greatly overwhelmed. Depending on the severity and spread of the disaster, help could arrive within minutes, hours, or days.
Basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off. You may become stranded away from your home, have to evacuate at a moment’s notice, or have to shelter in place. You probably will not have the time or ability to shop for the supplies you need to keep you and your family safe and healthy, so your supplies kit should contain items to help you manage during any of these outages.
Preparing a disaster supplies kit before a disaster strikes allows you peace of mind and the supplies you need to get through the first few days.
Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for home, work and vehicles.
You need to store at least one gallon of water per person per day.
When determining water quantities, also take into consideration:
For hot climates, you may need to increase your water quantities
Medical emergencies might require additional water
Family pets will also require water
Gather foods that do not require refrigeration, cooking or special preparation.
If you store canned foods, make sure to include a can opener.
Make sure to include foods for family members with special dietary needs.
If you have a pet, make sure to include pet food.
Three-day supply of nonperishable food.
Three-day supply of water - one gallon of water per person, per day.
Portable, battery powered radio or television and extra batteries.
Flashlight and extra batteries.
First aid kit.
Sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper).
Matches and waterproof container.
Extra clothing.
Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a can opener.
Photocopies of credit, identification cards, insurance paperwork and other important documents.
Cash and coins.
Food, water, and medicine for your pet.
Special needs items; prescription medications, eye glasses, contact lens, hearing aid batteries.
Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles and pacifiers.
Other items to meet your unique family needs.
Show your family members where the kit is located and how to use its components.
Change out stored food and water every six months. Pay attention to expiration dates.
Reevaluate your disaster supply kit at least once a year. Do you or your family have new prescriptions, paperwork, or any other new unique needs?
For more information on creating an emergency kit:
Creating a disaster plan is an essential part of preparing you and/or your family for a disaster or emergency situation. Discussing what you will do before, during, and after an emergency will empower your family to take control of their own safety and survival during a disaster.
Items you should discuss, write down and practice:
If you have children or older adults living with you, it is especially important to identify and practice your escape routes. Draw a floor plan of your home and mark the escape routes. Have everyone practice escaping from their bedrooms. It is a good idea to practice this while crawling in the dark, so you know how to escape during a fire.
Identify an area outside of your home where you will all meet up following an emergency. Also identify an area away from the home in case you become separated or are not at your home during the emergency.
Ex: Maybe a nearby school parking lot.
It is quite possible everyone you live with will not be at home when a disaster strikes. Make a plan for how you will get a hold of each other. Remember - After a disaster, phone lines will be busy. Make sure to identify an out-of-state contact person. This person may be more easily reached.
Learn First Aid and CPR. Contact your local American Red Cross to schedule a class. This is important for children and adults.
Make sure family members know how to use fire extinguishers and where it is located. (May not be appropriate for children)
Following a disaster you may be instructed to turn off one or all of your utilities. Make sure household members know how to turn off utilities and have the tools necessary to complete the task. Label your utilities with tags and make sure the shutoff valves are in working order.
Remember: If you turn off your gas for any reason, a gas professional must turn it back on for you. Do not turn it on by yourself.
Making plans in advance for your pet(s) is an essential part of disaster planning. Make sure your disaster supply kit includes ample food for your pet. Following a large disaster, charitable organizations will normally set up feeding operations for you and your family. These feeding operations will not normally include food for your pet, so plan ahead. Include a leash in your disaster kit and possibly a pet carrier or crate. Find out which local hotels will allow pets in case you need to evacuate from your home. Many shelters will not allow pets other than service animals, so please plan ahead.