October 16, 2002—The San Diego Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA), the San Diego Fire & Life Safety Services and the San Diego Police Department recently joined in a cooperative effort to practice emergency response and management to a multiple building emergency situation.
“Operation High-Rise” was the first ever real-life evacuation of two of San Diego’s most high-profile office buildings—Wells Fargo Plaza and Civic Center Plaza. Combined, the two facilities house approximately 2000 workers in the city’s downtown core.
The exercise not only allowed property managers and fire department staff to train for an emergency situation, but also gave building occupants the opportunity to learn the importance of being prepared in the event of a real emergency, similar to the World Trade Center disaster. For tenants, learning and practicing their building’s safety and evacuation plan and procedures is critical to survival.
The exercise included firefighters and office workers participating in an evacuation, firefighters repelling from a helicopter onto two buildings, and street closures.
For more information, contact BOMA San Diego.
