by Brianna Crandall — May 9, 2011—In the wake of the fraternity house fire at Illinois State University April 20, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) is urging students, campus officials and parents to be aware of important fire prevention safety tips. ASSE has also made available free fire prevention and safety tip sheets for both on and off college campuses on the its Safety Tips Web page.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 3,570 structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and barracks in 2003-2006. These fires caused an annual average of seven civilian deaths, 54 civilian fire injuries and $29.4 million in property damage.
The majority of fatal fires occur off-campus, says ASSE. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), out of the 139 campus-related fire fatalities that occurred from January 2000 to the present, 84 percent occurred off-campus.
The USFA notes that there is a strong link between fire deaths and alcohol, stating that in more than 50 percent of adult fire fatalities the victims were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the fires. ASSE also notes that most victims of fires die from smoke or toxic gases, not from burns.
To help reduce risk of injury and death, ASSE says that residence halls should be equipped with properly operating self-closing doors that are not propped open; clearly marked exits; corridors that are kept clear and are not blocked; heating and ventilation systems that are routinely inspected and repaired for any deficiencies; and properly operating fire alarm and extinguishing systems, where required.
To prevent on and off-campus fires, ASSE says that simple actions such as not overloading extension cords, power strips or outlets significantly reduce risk. Cooking safely, avoiding open flames and correctly discarding of smoking materials also help reduce the risk of fire.
Students should know where all exits are located and develop a fire escape plan for off-campus housing. Students living in on-campus dormitories or residence halls should follow all emergency evacuation procedures and participate in all fire drills. All should know how to operate a fire extinguisher, fire alarms and smoke detectors, adds ASSE.
