Campus Fire Safety

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Welcome
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Campus Fire Safety

• Living With Fire On Campus

New York State
Office of Fire Prevention and Control
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Dont Let It Happen to You!

• 1 out of every 3 people in this room will have an
  experience with fire in their future
• Over 4,000 people die each year from fires, over
  27,000 are injured
• A small fire can grow very quickly
• Education gives you the training needed to make
  good choices

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Dont Let It Happen to You!

• In the period 1993 to 1997 more than 1,600 fires
  occurred on college campuses in the United States
• More than 90 of them took place in res halls
  other residential structures, and classrooms
• The fire damage in dormitories alone approaches
  9 million per year.
• The real numbers are probably higher!

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Objectives

• At the completion of this workshop, students will
  know
• What fire is
• What the major causes and contributing factors of
  fire are
• How fires can be prevented
• What the special fire dangers in dormitories are
• Evacuation and Life Safety Survival
  Skills

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What Is Fire?
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Fire is

• A chemical reaction, characterized by the release
  of heat and light

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Fire is
FAST
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Fire is FAST!

• In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get
  completely out of control and turn into a major
  fire.
• It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to
  fill a house, room, or dorm.
• There is only time to escape!

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HOT
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Fire is HOT!

• Heat is more threatening than flames.
• Room temperatures can be 250F at floor level,
  rise to 800F at eye level and may exceed 1400F
  at the ceiling.
• Inhaling super hot air will scorch your lungs and
  kill you.
• The heat can melt clothes to your skin.

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Fire is

• Deadly

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Fire is DEADLY!

• Fire produces smoke and poisonous gases that
  kill.
• Breathing in small amounts can make you drowsy,
  disoriented and short of breath.
• The colorless, odorless fumes will lull you into
  a deep sleep before the flames reach your door.

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Fire is

• HOT
• DEADLY
• FAST
• but mostly Fire is

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• Dark

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Fire is DARK!

• Fire is not bright, its pitch black.
• If you wake up to a fire you may be blinded,
  disoriented and unable to find your way around.

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Think about it

• You are in a residence hall corridor filled
  with smoke, relying on the walls for balance and
  direction. You extend an arm and realize your
  hand has disappeared. Disorientation sets in as
  a thick haze swirls in the hallway and a blaring
  smoke alarm makes it difficult to think.

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• You get low and it is still nearly impossible
  to see. Exit signs are invisible so you cannot
  find a door, let alone feel if it is warm. You
  are wandering blindly in search of an escape
  route and the smoke continues to thicken.

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Adages of fire safety are easy to take for
granted until you are in a fire situation.

• Always remember
• Stay low because heat and smoke rise.
• Know two ways out
• Feel doors for heat
• Get out and stay out!

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Countdown to Disaster Video
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It can happen here!

• Res Halls present unique hazards
• A lot of people living close together
• Your actions impact many
• the needs of many must outweigh the needs of one

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Your mistake or carelessness could have this
result

• This fire occurred at a res hall about 300am

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Kitchen
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Day Room
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2nd floor hallway
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2nd floor hallway
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3rd floor day room
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1st floor entire res hall is now uninhabitable
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The pictures say it all.

• Who ever thought in a million years that a
  concrete res hall could end up like this?
• Res Hall residents need to think twice about
  staying in their rooms because they think it's
  another False Alarm!!!

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The Major Causes of Fires

• Arson, Cooking, Smoking
• Candles and Incense, Electricity

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Arson Fires

• One-third of res hall fires are incendiary.
• Thrill-seeking students can cause harm and
  destruction by maliciously starting fires.

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December 7, 2002

• At 715 pm, a fire was reported in a 10-story
  dormitory at the Buffalo State College. Major
  fire damage was in the suite of origin, with
  smoke and water damage on 3 floors.

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Cooking Fires

• 21 of all dormitory fires.
• Often caused by the misuse of cooking appliances
  in dorm rooms.
• This includes hot plates, microwaves, toaster
  ovens and electric frying pans.

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August 13, 2002

• A fire in a three-story, wood frame
  fraternity has claimed the life of one student at
  the Michigan Tech University. The fire started
  because the stove in the kitchen was left on, the
  grease in the hood was ignited, and the fire
  spread upwards. The victim was found 5 feet from
  the window in his room, trying to escape.

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Smoking Related Fires

• 14 of dormitory fires.
• Even when there is a ban on smoking in housing
  units, careless smoking can cause unnecessary
  damage and potential injury or death.

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February 7, 2003

• A fire occurred on the ninth floor of a
  ten-story residence hall at the State University
  of New York in Oswego. The fire started in the
  area of a computer table in a students room.
  The fire department was alerted by the activation
  of a smoke detector.

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SUNY Oswego
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SUNY Oswego

• This fire was caused by careless use of smoking
  materials in a
• non-smoking suite

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Candle Fires

• 13 of dormitory fires.
• Though banned on most campuses, the practice of
  open burning of candles and incense in college
  housing units continues to rise.

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• The result of a candle fire in a Binghamton
  University dormitory.

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Electrical Fires

• Electrical fires are caused by misuse of
• space heaters
• halogen lamps
• electric blankets
• televisions
• hair dryers
• other appliances

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Electrical Fires

• The misuse of extension cords and power strips
  have caused countless electrical overload fires.
• Be aware of frayed and cracked cords.

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Halogen Torchiere Floor Lamps

• According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
  Commission, the halogen bulbs in these lamps have
  caused at least 189 fires and 11 deaths since
  1992.

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February 26, 2001

• A fire started by a lamp killed a 23 year old
  Binghamton University junior in his off-campus
  housing.

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Special Holiday Fire Hazards

• Late November to early January Hanukkah,
  Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Years Day
• Yearly fire loss is estimated at over 80 million
• An estimated 11,600 fires
• An annual average of approximately 250 injuries
  and 40 fatalities

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Major Factors Contributing to death, injury, and
property loss
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6 Contributing Factors

• Student apathy
• Lack of student fire survival training
• Combustible fire load
• Insufficient electrical supply
• Compromised fire protection systems
• Improper use of 911

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Student apathy

• Students, used to frequent pranks, tend to ignore
  fire alarms.
• Students are even accustomed to sleeping through
  the alarms because of the number of false alarms.

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Lack of student fire survival training

• Generally, students are not prepared to survive a
  fire
• Students have not been taught
• What to do when dissimilar fire conditions occur
• How to preplan the locations of exits, especially
  an alternate exit

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Combustible fire load

• The average dormitory room has a significant
  combustible fire load.
• The room contains common residential furnishings
• Desks, chairs, rugs, bookcases, dressers, etc.
• Decorative wall materials such as posters,
  pictures, and fabrics.

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Insufficient electrical supply

• The average of two electrical wall outlets in a
  room is insufficient and below the electrical
  capacity needed.
• Students try to compensate by use of extension
  cords and/or multiple piggyback power strips.

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Compromised fire protection systems

• Vandalized and improperly maintained fire
  protection systems can inhibit early fire
  detection and the fire alarms warning system
• Cans stuffed in standpipe outlets
• Individual disabled smoke detectors in rooms
• Damaged fire doors
• Side wall sprinkler heads used as coat
  racks

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Improper use of 911

• It should be stressed that this number is for
  emergencies only.
• Campus emergency preplans should include
  information on how to access an outside line in
  an emergency.

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Fires can be prevented by
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Thinking about fire safety on the Es

• Every Minute
• Every Day
• Every Where
• Every Time

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Safety Tips

• Cooking
• Not allowed in rooms on most campuses
• If allowed
• Cook only where the rules allow.
• Keep the cooking area clean and uncluttered.
• Unplug electric appliances when not in use.
• Never leave cooking unattended.
• Dont try to remove burning containers from a
  microwave, keep the door closed and unplug the
  machine.

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Safety Tips for Smokers

• 3rd most frequent cause of college fires
• If allowed
• Smoke only where permitted.
• Use a large, deep, non-tip ashtray
• Dont smoke in bed.
• Its risky to smoke when youve been drinking or
  when youre drowsy.
• Soak cigarette butts in water before discarding
• After a party, check cushions for smoldering
  cigarettes.

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Safety Tips

• Candles - always dangerous
• 4th most frequent cause of campus fires
• If allowed
• Blow out candles when you leave your room or go
  to sleep.
• Use sturdy candle holders and dont let candles
  burn down all the way.
• Keep papers, curtains and anything that burns
  away from lit candles.
• Never leave wick-trimmings, matches or other
  material in the candle holder.
• Avoid items with combustible items embedded in or
  around them.

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The Fire Safety Triangle
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Tragedy in OhioApril 13, 2003

• One of the worst campus fire tragedies in recent
  history occurred in Ohio, killing five students
  in an early morning off-campus house fire.
• Upon arrival, the fire department found heavy
  fire involvement on the first floor.
• The five students died from smoke inhalation and
  carbon monoxide poisoning.

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Tragedy in OhioApril 13, 2003

• The building was equipped with a single-station
  smoke alarm that was operating upon fire
  department arrival.
• It was not equipped with an automatic fire
  sprinkler system.

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Know how to survive!
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Know how to survive!

• Know two ways to get out
• Sound the alarm
• Dont ignore alarms
• Warn others
• Crawl low in smoke
• Use stairwells, not elevators
• Once outside stay outside

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Pull Stations

• Activation of a fire pull-station will trigger
  the evacuation of the building and may send a
  signal to security and the local fire department.

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Use Stairwells, Not Elevators

• Take the stairs
• Walk, dont run
• Stay in single file
• Do not run over fallen people, help them
• Elevators can fill with smoke
• The elevator shaft can become a chimney

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Persons with Disabilities Need

• Special evacuation provisions
• Evacuation assistance
• Pre-planning
• Personal awareness and planning

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On-campus is not the only place fires occur

• When you are off-campus always be aware of your
  surroundings.
• Whether you are at work, out for dinner or at a
  club with friends, have fire safety on your mind.

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Planning Ahead

• Know your surroundings
• Know where exits are located
• Know at least two ways out
• Know the location of fire alarm pull stations
• Keep aisles clear of all debris

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Evacuation and Life Safety Survival Skills
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Evacuation Survival Skills

• Evacuation of dormitory housing.
• Know where the nearest exit (stairwell) is and an
  alternate exit from your room.
• From your room count the number of doors to the
  stairs left and right of the room.
• Do not use elevators to exit the building.

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Evacuation Survival Skills

• If readily available take purse, vehicle keys,
  and medications with you
• Feel the top of the door with the back of your
  hand for heat and/or look through the door vision
  hole
• If not hot, open the door slowly. Stay below the
  height of the doorknob. Do not lock the door but
  close it behind you.
• If smoke and heat are present crawl low to the
  exit and evacuate the building.
• If you encounter heavy smoke in the stairwell,
  use an alternate exit or go back to your room.

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Evacuation Survival Skills

• If the door is hot, smoke blocks the exit, or you
  are otherwise trapped
• Stay calm
• Keep the doors closed
• Seal cracks and vents if smoke comes in

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Evacuation Survival Skills

• If you are trapped
• Call 911 or the appropriate emergency number and
  make emergency responders aware of your situation
  and location
• Signal for help
• Dont jump. The fire department will rescue you

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Evacuation Survival Skills

• After evacuating the building
• Report to your designated evacuation area for
  accountability check by the RA.
• Report any concerns to RA on duty or Security.
• Wait for instruction from Emergency personnel or
  Security.
• Do not re-enter!!

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Key points to remember

• Some things you can do to prevent fires and
  tragedies from happening
• Take responsibility for prevention
• Check smoke alarms/detectors
• Plan escape routes
• Take fire alarms seriously
• It can happen to you!!!

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• Survival is your first
• priority!

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• Get Out and Stay Alive
• Video

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Conclusion

• Fire is Fast, Hot, Deadly and Dark
• Major causes of fire
• Arson
• Cooking
• Smoking
• Candles and Incense
• Electricity

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Conclusion

• Factors contributing to property loss, injury,
  and death
• Student apathy
• Lack of student fire survival training
• Combustible fire load
• Insufficient electrical supply
• Compromised fire protection systems
• Improper use of 911

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Conclusion

• There are specific fire dangers in dormitories
• You must know evacuation and life safety survival
  skills
• Fires are preventable with proper safety behaviors

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The End!