California State Fire Marshal Urges Campuses to Promote Fire Safety

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Sacramento, California

A three-alarm fire on June 29, 2010 forced the evacuation of hundreds of students from a dorm at UC Berkeley and now serves as a reminder to California's college students and parents of the importance for fire safety while at school. 

To prevent future fires on California's college campuses, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proclaimed the month of September as National Campus Fire Safety Month. Both Governor Schwarzenegger and CAL FIRE - Office of the State Fire Marshal are encouraging campuses across the state to promote campus fire safety awareness and support efforts in providing safe housing for the students who live on or off campus. 

As students begin their college experience or return for another year, Campus Fire Safety Month is a unique opportunity to impress upon them and their parents the importance of knowing how to select fire-safe housing and how to protect against fire injury or death.  More than half of the students live in off-campus housing so this is a significant risk in many communities across the nation.  Schools across the country will hold events to educate and inform students about what they can do to help ensure they are not the victim of a preventable fire.  

"With approximately four million students currently attending colleges and universities in California, knowing the steps to prevent or escape a fire while attending college can be lifesaving," said Acting State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover. "Getting this information into the hands – and heads – of students, parents, landlords and the schools is as critical as ever." 

Here are some campus fire safety tips:

• Look for fully sprinklered housing when choosing a residence hall or off-campus housing.
  
• Make sure your dormitory or apartment has smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside every sleeping area and on each level.
  
• Test all smoke alarms at least monthly.
  
• Never remove batteries or disable the alarm.
  
• Learn your building's evacuation plan and practice all drills as if they were the real thing.
  
• Cook only where it is permitted.
  
• Use a surge protector for your computer and plug the protector directly into an outlet.
  

Make the college experience a fire safe experience!  


Author:CAL FIRE News Release