State Fire Marshal Asks Students
to Brush up on Fire Safety
JEFFERSON CITY, September 7, 2006-State Fire Marshal
Randy Cole is urging college students to be vigilant about maintaining
a fire safe environment as the nation recognizes September as Campus
Fire Safety Month.
“This will be an unparalleled opportunity for
the fire service to reach out to the young adults of our communities
with information that they can use to protect themselves, their friends,
roommates and family every day,” Cole said.
Between 2004 and 2006 Missouri fire departments responded
to 13 fire incidents at colleges and universities. While this number
seems small, nationwide over 2,000 fires annually occur in student
housing resulting in an average of five fatalities and multiple injuries
with direct property damage reaching more than $29 million. The most
common cause was attributed to cooking related fires.
While many parents have already educated their children
about home fire safety; it is equally important for parents to now
remind them how to keep themselves safe from fire when away at school.
For many of these students it is their first experience living away
from home. It is important that parents and students check to ensure
that adequate fire protection programs are in place on campus and
become familiar with them.
Be Prepared For a Fire
• Your building should have an evacuation plan. Learn it and
participate
in all fire drills as if they were the real thing. False alarms are
no
joke - report them.
• Identify and plan for people who may require alternative forms
of
notification if a fire occurs and those who may need assistance to
evacuate the building.
• If you have a disability, make sure you are included in the
escape
planning for your classroom area and housing.
• Learn the location of all building exits. You may have to
find your
way out in the dark.
• Portable fire extinguishers can put out small, contained fires.
Don't
play with them.
Cooking
• Cook only where it's permitted.
• If you use a kitchen, keep it clean and uncluttered.
• If you use electric appliances, don't overload circuits.
• Never leave cooking unattended.
• If a fire starts in a microwave oven, keep the door closed
and unplug
the unit. Don't try to remove the burning containers from a microwave.
Electrical
· Do not overload circuits with electrical devices/components.
· Never place power cords across traffic paths or under carpets.
· Use a surge protector for your computer and plug the protector
directly into an outlet.
Candles
· Fire officials are very concerned with the increase in candle
fires and related deaths.
· Many schools do not permit candle use.