OU Norman Campus Hosts Active Shooter Training

The Saxon Warehouse at the University of Oklahoma recently was home to a coordinated training exercise aimed at ensuring a safe campus and community.  

The Norman Fire Department coordinated with the OU Fire Marshal’s Office, Norman Emergency Management Services Authority, Norman Police Department and OU Police Department for an active shooter training drill. 

“We have a great relationship with OU and the campus fire marshal’s office. Several times throughout the year we coordinate trainings like this so we can get on campus, see the buildings and become more familiar with the campus environment. The impact of crisis events affects both of our communities, so it’s important we work together and have a strong partnership,” said Norman Fire Chief Travis King. 

The Saxon Warehouse was used for the training due to its many obstacles, environmental variables and opportunity to present a realistic scenario. The OU Fire Marshal’s Office assisted during the training with facility maps and general building knowledge. 

“We’re in these buildings every day so we have knowledge that could be helpful in a search and rescue situation. At the warehouse, there are two floors, small offices and the open warehouse with long aisles that occupants could move to during an event. We even made some areas dark, which adds a realistic twist to an already difficult search and rescue scenario,” said OU Fire Marshal Justin Daniels. 

The search and rescue training took a full day to complete and involved over 40 Norman Fire Department personnel. 

The Norman Fire Department and OU Fire Marshal’s Office will continue to identify ways they can work together to help keep faculty, staff, students and visitors safe in any type of situation.