Welcome

1. Welcome

2. Campus Fire Safety Living With Fire On Campus New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control

3. Don’t Let It Happen to You! • 1 out of every 3 people in this room will have an experience with fire in their future • Over 4,000 people die each year from fires, over 27,000 are injured • A small fire can grow very quickly • Education gives you the training needed to make good choices NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

4. Don’t Let It Happen to You! • In the period 1993 to 1997 more than 1,600 fires occurred on college campuses in the United States • More than 90% of them took place in res halls other residential structures, and classrooms • The fire damage in dormitories alone approaches $9 million per year. • The real numbers are probably higher! NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

5. Objectives At the completion of this workshop, students will know : • What fire is • What the major causes and contributing factors of fire are • How fires can be prevented • What the special fire dangers in dormitories are • Evacuation and Life Safety Survival Skills NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

6. What Is Fire?

7. Fire is: • A chemical reaction, characterized by the release of heat and light NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

8. Fire is: FAST NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

9. Fire is FAST! • In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. • It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house, room, or dorm. • There is only time to escape! NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

10. HOT NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

11. Fire is HOT! • Heat is more threatening than flames. • Room temperatures can be 250°F at floor level, rise to 800°F at eye level and may exceed 1400°F at the ceiling. • Inhaling super hot air will scorch your lungs and kill you. • The heat can melt clothes to your skin. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

12. Fire is: Deadly NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

13. Fire is DEADLY! • Fire produces smoke and poisonous gases that kill. • Breathing in small amounts can make you drowsy, disoriented and short of breath. • The colorless, odorless fumes will lull you into a deep sleep before the flames reach your door. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

14. Fire is: • HOT • DEADLY • FAST but mostly – Fire is NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

15. Dark NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

16. Fire is DARK! • Fire is not bright, it’s pitch black. • If you wake up to a fire you may be blinded, disoriented and unable to find your way around. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

17. Think about it… You are in a residence hall corridor filled with smoke, relying on the walls for balance and direction. You extend an arm and realize your hand has disappeared. Disorientation sets in as a thick haze swirls in the hallway and a blaring smoke alarm makes it difficult to think. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

18. You get low and it is still nearly impossible to see. Exit signs are invisible so you cannot find a door, let alone feel if it is warm. You are wandering blindly in search of an escape route and the smoke continues to thicken. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

19. Adages of fire safety are easy to take for granted until you are in a fire situation. • Always remember: • Stay low because heat and smoke rise. • Know two ways out • Feel doors for heat • Get out and stay out! NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

20. Countdown to DisasterVideo NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

21. It can happen here! Res Halls present unique hazards: • A lot of people living close together • Your actions impact many • “the needs of many must outweigh the needs of one” NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

22. Your mistake or carelessness could have this result This fire occurred at a res hall about 3:00am NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

23. Kitchen NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

24. Day Room NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

25. 2nd floor hallway NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

26. 2nd floor hallway NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

27. 3rd floor day room NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

28. 1st floor – entire res hall is now uninhabitable NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

29. The pictures say it all…. • Who ever thought in a million years that a concrete res hall could end up like this? • Res Hall residents need to think twice about staying in their rooms because they think it's another False Alarm!!! NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

30. The Major Causes of Fires Arson, Cooking, Smoking Candles and Incense, Electricity

31. Arson Fires • One-third of res hall fires are incendiary. • Thrill-seeking students can cause harm and destruction by maliciously starting fires. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

32. December 7, 2002 At 7:15 pm, a fire was reported in a 10-story dormitory at the Buffalo State College. Major fire damage was in the suite of origin, with smoke and water damage on 3 floors. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

33. Cooking Fires • 21% of all dormitory fires. • Often caused by the misuse of cooking appliances in dorm rooms. • This includes: hot plates, microwaves, toaster ovens and electric frying pans. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

34. August 13, 2002 “Afire in a three-story, wood frame fraternity has claimed the life of one student at the Michigan Tech University. The fire started because the stove in the kitchen was left on, the grease in the hood was ignited, and the fire spread upwards. The victim was found 5 feet from the window in his room, trying to escape.” NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

35. Smoking Related Fires • 14% of dormitory fires. • Even when there is a ban on smoking in housing units, careless smoking can cause unnecessary damage and potential injury or death. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

36. February 7, 2003 A fire occurred on the ninth floor of a ten-story residence hall at the State University of New York in Oswego. The fire started in the area of a computer table in a student’s room. The fire department was alerted by the activation of a smoke detector. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

37. SUNY Oswego NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

38. SUNY Oswego This fire was caused by careless use of smoking materials in a … non-smoking suite NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

39. Candle Fires • 13% of dormitory fires. • Though banned on most campuses, the practice of open burning of candles and incense in college housing units continues to rise. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

40. The result of a candle fire in a Binghamton University dormitory. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

41. Electrical Fires Electrical fires are caused by misuse of: • space heaters • halogen lamps • electric blankets • televisions • hair dryers • other appliances NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

42. Electrical Fires The misuse of extension cords and power strips have caused countless electrical overload fires. Be aware of frayed and cracked cords. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

43. Halogen Torchiere Floor Lamps • According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the halogen bulbs in these lamps have caused at least 189 fires and 11 deaths since 1992. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

44. February 26, 2001 A fire started by a lamp killed a 23 year old Binghamton University junior in his off-campus housing. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

45. Special Holiday Fire Hazards • Late November to early January: Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Day • Yearly fire loss is estimated at over $80 million • An estimated 11,600 fires • An annual average of approximately 250 injuries and 40 fatalities NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

46. Major Factors Contributing to death, injury, and property loss

47. 6 Contributing Factors • Student apathy • Lack of student fire survival training • Combustible fire load • Insufficient electrical supply • Compromised fire protection systems • Improper use of 911 NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

48. Student apathy • Students, used to frequent pranks, tend to ignore fire alarms. • Students are even accustomed to sleeping through the alarms because of the number of false alarms. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

49. Lack of student fire survival training • Generally, students are not prepared to survive a fire: Students have not been taught: • What to do when dissimilar fire conditions occur • How to preplan the locations of exits, especially an alternate exit NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control

50. Combustible fire load • The average dormitory room has a significant combustible fire load. • The room contains common residential furnishings: • Desks, chairs, rugs, bookcases, dressers, etc. • Decorative wall materials such as posters, pictures, and fabrics. NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control