[Lilab] Fwd: [Science_faculty_all] TAKE ACTION: Physics Fire Incident and Inspections by the State Fire Marshal

[Wei Vivian Li]

Hi All,

Please see the message below. If there are any concerns at or around your
desk in your office, please address them on Thursday.

Best,
Vivian





---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: CNAS Dean via Science_faculty_all <science_faculty_all at lists.ucr.edu>
Date: Wed, Jan 22, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Subject: [Science_faculty_all] TAKE ACTION: Physics Fire Incident and
Inspections by the State Fire Marshal
To: science_faculty_all at lists.ucr.edu <science_faculty_all at lists.ucr.edu>


Dear Chairs, Directors, Faculty, and All Lab Personnel,



As you are aware, a fire occurred in Physics Annex 1159 on January 16, 2025
at 2:20 PM.  Emergency procedures were followed and all individuals safely
evacuated the building with no further incident.  First responders were on
the scene from both campus and the City of Riverside, they were able to
address and extinguish the fire very quickly.



In response to the fire, the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is the
lead agency assessing the root cause of the incident and the building will
remain closed until the investigation is complete.



                *EH&S and the Fire Life Safety teams believe the State will
access more labs on campus in the near future.*



We are requesting your assistance and support in reminding your faculty to
address any open findings and/or escalation immediately, not limited to and
including;



   - Chemical inventory accuracy, appropriate placarding,
   - Hazardous waste disposal,
   - General housekeeping, removing all cartons, boxes, and trash,
   - Electrical safety,
   - Ensuring doorways, pathways, electrical panels, fire extinguishers are
   not blocked or obstructed.

NOTE:  The faculty/PI are held accountable for incidents in their labs.



EH&S is available to provide guidance, assistance, and answer any questions
in support of our faculty and facilities.  Higher risk labs will be
prioritized which includes higher risk equipment and activities.  EH&S
would like to visit as many labs as possible in anticipation of the State’s
visit.



We urge you to take action now, *the OSFM will not wait to be invited into
any space; once a space or spaces are chosen to investigate, they will
focus their inspection on the entire space down to minute details*.
Sabrina will follow up with a message to each department chair to provide
the latest list of outstanding EH&S items.  Thank you in advance for your
assistance and cooperation.



Sincerely,



Peter





Peter W Atkinson, Ph.D.

Dean, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Professor

Department of Entomology

2315 Olmsted Hall (Dean’s Office)

Ph: +1 951-827-3101

2234A Genomics Building (Faculty Office)

Ph: +1 951-827-4782

https://atkinsonlabentm.ucr.edu/

peter.atkinson at ucr.edu

(he/him/his)

University of California, Riverside

USA



Executive Assistant: Jennifer Markovski

Jennifer.markovski at ucr.edu

(office) +1 951-827-4597




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