With the Semester Starting, NY Conducts College Fire Safety Inspections, Education

New York's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and Office of Fire Prevention and Control are visiting the state’s private and public colleges and universities to conduct inspections, education programs, and a series of campus fire safety education training days.

It's a needed precaution. According to the US Fire Administration, from January 2000 to May 2015, there were 85 fatal fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities and off-campus housing, resulting in 118 fatalities — an average of approximately seven per school year.

To deal with off-campus fire safety issues, among others, New Rochelle is now requiring property owners who house three or more college students to register their property with the city.

The state strengthened its campus fire inspection and education programs following a fatal fire at a freshman residence hall on the Seton Hall University campus in New Jersey in 2000.

While some states opted to retrofit campus residences with fire sprinklers to improve safety, New York passed legislation that instituted the most vigorous fire inspection program in the country and made the Office of Fire Prevention and Control responsible for inspecting all private and public colleges and universities outside of the City of New York.

The visits this summer and fall are to teach students about campus fire danger and provide special trainings for residence assistants and resident life directors, ultimately helping to ensure campus safety across the state.

Vital Campus Fire Safety Tips for Students:

• Always know two ways out. Whether in a residence hall, off-campus housing, at an event or night out or party, always plan your escape.
• When the smoke alarm or fire alarm sounds, get out of the building quickly, or follow your building evacuation plan, and stay out.
• Cook only where it is permitted and never leave cooking unattended.
• Check your lamps. Don’t exceed the maximum wattage and monitor for overheating.
• Make sure there is a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm nearby.
• Never remove batteries or disable the alarm.
• Check your school’s rules before using electrical appliances in your room.

“New York has one of the most robust campus fire inspection programs in the country and our work to educate students about fire danger has received national recognition and help prevent avoidable tragedies,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in his announcement of the program. “I applaud the work that Office of Fire Prevention and Control and local fire officials have done to keep our students and campuses safe, and encourage colleges and universities across the state to continue to take advantage of this life saving resource.”

Campus education events for RAs were completed in August at the Culinary Institute of America, Dutchess County Community College, Marist College, SUNY Morrisville, Clarkson University, Mercy College, LeMoyne College, SUNY Cobleskill, Bard College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Upcoming Campus Fire Safety Awareness Day Events:

- Siena College, September 9

- Fulton–Montgomery Community College, September 13

- Culinary Institute of America, September 21

- Bard College, September 23

- Union College, September 28

- Dutchess County Community College, October 4

- SUNY Potsdam, October 4

- SUNY Adirondack, October 13

In the last year, Office of Fire Prevention and Control has conducted 23,689 inspections at public and private colleges and universities across New York State.

Using a hands-on format, these fire safety education days include use of the Office of Fire Prevention and Control fire safety house for smoke evacuation simulation and fire sprinkler demonstrations, as well as remarks on fire safety from college presidents, elected officials, fire chiefs, Office of Fire Prevention and Control officials and burn survivors.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner John P. Melville said, “The State has entrusted Office of Fire Prevention and Control to help keep New York’s campuses safe from fire danger and it is a mission that we embrace. Office of Fire Prevention and Control, working alongside local fire officials, strive to inform and educate college students, faculty and staff each year about what they can do to prevent campus fires.”

Find more information about campus fire safety here.

PHOTO/ U.S. Fire Administration