Campus Safety

From 2000 to 2015, there have been 126 campus fire related fatalities in the United States. 87% of these incidents occurred in off-campus housing.These fatal fires were mostly caused by careless disposal of smoking materials and impaired judgment due to alcohol/drug consumption. The incidences also had missing or disabled smoke alarms and a lack of fire sprinklers to allow for maximum time to escape the building.

Your Dorm is Your Home

It is important to remember that your dorm or off-campus living is your home while you are at college, and fire safety precautions become your responsibility.

Note: If living on-campus, most fire safety standards are taken care of for you.

"Get Out and Stay Alive"

USFA and FEMA collaborated to produce this video to share the importance of campus fire safety.

General Fire Safety Reminders:

Smoke Alarms...

...should be installed on every floor and in every sleeping area.
...should be tested and cleaned once a month.
Make sure that 10-year lithium battery operated are installed in your home rather than the 9 volt battery operated smoke alarms.
If you do not have the sealed 10-year lithium smoke alarms, you can find them available for purchase at your local hardware store.
Smoke alarms should be replaced 10 years following the date of manufacture found on back.

Fire Escape Plans

Have and know two ways out of every room in your house
Have a meeting place to know that everyone is safely out of the home
Practice your fire escape plan at least once month
Draw a diagram of the escape plan, and post it in every room for when visitors come over
If a fire does occur, make sure you safety exit the home before calling 911. Once you are out of the home, DO NOT GO BACK IN.

Kitchen Safety

According to the NFPA, during 2009-2013, 86% of campus fire involved cooking equipment.
Never leave cooking food unattended.
Do not cook under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Keep all flammable materials away from heat sources such as the oven or stove
Before using microwave, make sure all materials are microwave safe and do not over cook food.
Have an ABC Fire Extinguisher close by while cooking and know how to use it properly.

Smoking Materials

Dispose of smoking materials in ash trays.
Make sure cigarettes are completely extinguished before disposal.
Never throw cigarettes on the ground.
Do not smoke in your home where ashes and embers can fall and ignite a fire.
Never smoke in bed.
If possible, do not smoke at all.

Want to find out more on Campus Fire Safety? See the links below!