College Living Fire Safety

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Overall, most college-related fires are due to a general lack of knowledge about fire safety and prevention. It is important that both off-campus and on-campus students understand fire risks and know the preventative measures that could save their lives.

On and Off-Campus Living

Be Prepared For a Fire

  • Your building should have an evacuation plan. Learn it and participate in all fire drills.
  • If you hear an alarm, leave immediately. Close doors behind you as you go. Take room keys; if you can't escape you may have to return to your room.
    • Know two ways out of every room.
    • Feel the door.
    • If the door is hot, DON’T open it. Use your second way out, or go to the window and call for help.
    • If the door is cool, stay low and open it slowly. Check for smoke and fire before going out.
  • 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.
  • Make sure your building has smoke alarms. Do not disable them or remove batteries.
  • The best protection is a building with a fire sprinkler system.
  • Don't hang anything from fire sprinkler pipes or nozzles.
  • Keep a flashlight handy.
  • Keep escape routes clear. Do not allow objects to be stored in halls or stairwells. Make sure windows can be easily opened.

Alcohol & Fire Safety Facts

A study conducted by the Fire Protection Research Foundation of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) showed the effectiveness of emergency alarms decreased when individuals were alcohol impaired and asleep. Since the 1970s, smoke alarms have decreased fire deaths by 50%.

  • Alcohol impairs judgement, slows reaction times and affects coordination.
  • Consumption of alcohol or other drugs lower the probability of quick and logical evacuation and is often a contributing factor of the cause of the fire.
  • Alcohol impairment has been found to greatly increase the probability of death from fire.
  • “Being alert to an emergency is a vital first step in being able to survive it.”

Escape tips

  • If you have to escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit.
  • Before opening a door, feel the door. If it is hot, use your second way out.
  • Use the stairs; never use an elevator during a fire.
  • If you're trapped, dial 9-1-1 and tell them where you are. Seal your door with rags and signal from your window. Open windows slightly at the top and bottom, but close them if smoke rushes in from any direction.
  • If you have a disability, alert others of the type of assistance you need to leave the building.
  • Take all fire alarms seriously
    • Never ignore a fire alarm.
    • Do not wait to see fire or smoke.
    • Do not try to get your things.
    • Respond to every alarm as a real fire.

Smoking

  • If you must smoke, only smoke outside of the building and only where it is permitted. (See City of Lawrence, Smoking Ordinance, Chapter 9, Article 8)
  • It is risky to smoke when you've been drinking or when you are drowsy.
  • Don't smoke in bed.
  • Soak cigarettes before you empty ashtrays.
  • After a party, check furniture and cushions for smoldering butts.

Cooking

  • Cook only where it is 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.
  • Check with your school adn local fire department before using grills. (See Fact Sheet – Grilling on Apartment Balconies
  • Barbecue Safety

Candles

  • Do not burn candles.

Electrical

  • Check your school's rules before using electrical appliances in your room.
  • Follow manufacturer's instructions for plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet.
  • Don't pinch cords against walls or furniture or run them under carpets. Never tack or nail cords.
  • Don't overload your wiring.
  • Buy only appliances that have the label of an independent testing lab.
  • Use light bulbs that match the recommended wattage on the lamp or fixture. Place lamps on level surfaces, away from things that can burn.

Off-Campus

According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are approximately 18,000,000 students enrolled in 4,100 colleges and universities across the country. Since the 2000 academic year, 86% of the campus-related fire fatalities have occurred in off-campus housing where approximately two-thirds of students live.

There are five common factors in number of these fires:

  • Lack of automatic fire sprinklers
  • Missing or disabled smoke alarms
  • Careless disposal of smoking materials
  • Impaired judgement from alcohol consumption
  • Upholstered furniture fires on decks and porches

Fire Safety Checklist (PDF) for students who are moving to off-campus housing – offered by NFPA Public Education Division.

Did you know that grilling on apartment balconies is prohibited in the City of Lawrence?

The Lawrence City Commission adopted the 2012 International Fire Code and local amendments with an effective date of July 1, 2013. The International Fire Code section 308.1.4 specifically states: "Charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3048 mm) of combustible construction."

Exceptions:

  • One-and-two family dwellings.
  • Where buildings, balconies and decks are protected by an automatic sprinkler system.
  • LP-gas cooking devices having LP-gas container with a water capacity not greater than 2 1/2 pounds [nominal 1 pound (0.454 kg) LP-gas capacity].

Fact Sheet – Grilling on Apartment Balconies (PDF)

On-Campus

In cases where fire fatalities have occurred on college campuses, alcohol was a factor. There is a strong link between alcohol and fire deaths. Alcohol abuse often impairs judgment and hampers evacuation efforts. Many other factors contribute to the problem of dormitory housing fires:

  • Improper use of 911 notification systems delays emergency response,
  • Student apathy is prevalent. Many are unaware that fire is a risk or threat in the environment,
  • Evacuation efforts are hindered since fire alarms are often ignored,
  • Building evacuations are delayed due to lack of preparation and planning,
  • Vandalized and improperly maintained smoke alarms and fire alarms systems inhibit early detection of fires,
  • Misuse of cooking appliances, overloaded electrical circuits, and extension cords increase the risk of fires,

Educating students on what they can do to stay safe during the school year is important and often over looked. College students should take a few minutes to make sure they are living in a fire-safe environment.

College Campus Fire Safety Tips (PDF) – offered by NFPA Public Education Division.

Good questions to ask before moving in or signing a lease:

  1. Are working smoke alarms installed? (Preferably in each bedroom, interconnected to sound all if any one detects smoke.)
  2. Are there at least two ways to exit your bedroom and your building?
  3. Do the upper floors of the building have at least two interior stairs, or a fire escape?
  4. Is a sprinkler system installed and maintained?
  5. Are the existing electrical outlets adequate for all the appliances, computers, printers and electronics that you are bringing – without the need for extension cords?
  6. Are there EXIT signs in the building hallways to indicate accessible escape routes?
  7. Does the building have a fire alarm system installed and maintained?
  8. Has the buildings heating system been inspected recently (in the last year)?
  9. Is the building address clearly posted to allow emergency services to find you quickly in the event of an emergency?
  10. Does the sprinkler system or the fire alarm system send a signal to the local fire department and/or campus security?

Escape Planning

  • Know and practice your escape routes. Always have two ways out.
  • Get low and go under the smoke to escape to your safe exit.
  • Feel the door. If it's hot, use your second way out.
  • Use the stairs; never use an elevator during a fire.

Dormitory, Fraternity, Sorority, and Barrack Structure Fire Fact Sheet (PDF, 64.7KB) provided by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Safety Precautions for Colleges and Universities

  • Provide students with a program for fire safety and prevention.
  • Teach students how to properly notify the fire department using the 911 system.
  • Install smoke alarms and fire sprinkler systems.
  • Maintain and regularly test smoke alarms and fire alarm systems. Replace smoke alarm batteries every semester.
  • Regularly inspect rooms and buildings for fire hazards.
  • Inspect exit doors and windows and make sure they are working properly.
  • Create and updated detailed floor plans of buildings, and make them available to emergency personnel, resident advisors and students.
  • Conduct fire drills and practice escape routes and evacuation plans. Urge students to take each alarm seriously.
  • Make sure electrical outlets and power strips are not overloaded and extension cords are not being used .
  • Learn to properly use and maintain heating and cooking appliances.

*Sources: Campus Fire Safety (www.campusfiresafety.org), United States Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association.*