March 17--Officials hammered out a plan they hope will reduce the frequency of false alarms that sent firefighters to Bacone College more than 340 times during the past five years.
The plan, which college administrators and city officials implemented Thursday, is seen as a way to minimize the risk to firefighters, students and public safety. The need for such a plan was prompted by a complaint filed by a representative of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 57.
The complaint states the fire department runs are the result of "students (who) are pulling" alarms, "smoking in the dorms," and refusing to leave the buildings after an alarm has sounded. Each time firefighters responded to an alarm, the Muskogee Fire Department dispatched four fire trucks and a command vehicle to the scene.
The situation is seen as "a risk to all firemen making the runs" and poses risks to the motoring public when firefighter are "running red to get to these calls." Each run also exacts a financial cost on the department, but Chief Derek Tatum said he has not calculated an exact cost associated with each run to the Bacone College campus.
City Attorney Roy Tucker said all parties appeared to be satisfied with the plan when they left a recent fire safety meeting. The plan, he said, defines the roles and duties of Bacone College administrators, students and the city's emergency responders.
"Bacone is implementing a plan to do what it needs to do internally, and it clarifies our role when we respond to an alarm there," Tucker said. "Our police will accompany the firemen every time and assist them when students are disobeying their orders."
Mike Miller, Bacone's senior vice president of institutional advancement, agreed with Tucker's assessment of the productive nature of the fire safety committee meeting. He said the cooperative efforts is an example of the "good partnership" the college enjoys with the city of Muskogee.
"Our staff met with students who live in the dorms on campus most associated with fire alarms and specifically communicated policies and consequences for triggering false alarms," Miller said. "The meeting with students went well, and we anticipate fewer fire calls in the future."
According to statistics presented during a Feb. 25 committee meeting, the Muskogee Fire Department responded to 118 alarms at Bacone College in 2010. The number of runs fell to 84 and 47 respectively during the next two years. The number of responses escalated to 74 in 2013, and 17 already had been recorded by Feb. 25.
Tucker said officials will continue to monitor the situation and track the plan's effectiveness. The plan, he said, will be revisited if revisions are required.
"This is a serious matter," Tucker said. "Basically, we are putting students on notice that any horseplay or setting off alarms will not be tolerated -- they could face not only criminal charges but be subject to internal school discipline."
Reach D.E. Smoot at (918) 684-2901 or [email protected].
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