Fire Safety Dispatch: Spring Cleaning

Spring is traditionally the time to clear out unnecessary items that may have accumulated over the past year. The New York City Fire Department considers “excessive storage” conditions a contributing factor to the growth of large fires and an obstacle during evacuation.

We encourage everyone across the medical center to do the following:

  • Do not store anything in CUMC hallways.
  • Maintain an adequate aisle within your office or lab for emergency egress.
  • To discard large items, request a garbage bin, or request a recycling bin, submit a work order to CUMC Facilities or call 212-305-HELP (4357), option 3.

Fires and other emergencies can happen. For your safety and the safety of others, keep the tradition going—do some spring cleaning.

For general building questions or concerns, email cumcfiresafety@columbia.edu. For lab-specific questions or concerns, email fire-life@columbia.edu.