For the first time in 16 years, no students were killed in college housing fires during the past academic year
Increased awareness is credited with making the difference, said Ed Comeau, publisher of Campus Firewatch.
“This is the first time since I started collecting statistics in 2000 that there were no deaths during the last academic year,” he said.
His records show 20 students were killed during the 2006-07 academic year. Four were killed in 2013-14 and in 2014-15.
Comeau said students and parents seem to be paying attention about the importance of fire safety.
“Buildings are not getting any better…”
Social media is helping to spread the message about campus safety, he added.
But, there’s still more to do.
Less than 12 hours before a press conference about campus fire safety at the Massachusetts state house Wednesday, there was a rooming house fire nearby.
Six of the 11 occupants were college students, and all escaped injury.
“It was a close call,” Comeau said.
A ceiling fan in a bathroom was blamed for the 12:25 a.m. fire.
The owner of the building was given a citation last week for not having working smoke alarms, according to published reports.
In addition to making sure the residence has working smoke alarms, students should have two ways to get out.
Comeau said the fire drove home the message of how important it is for students to make wise choices about where they live.
MA Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey and Easton Fire Chief Kevin Partridge announced a new website dedicated to the issue: Bestroommatesevah.org.
There are free documents and videos that can be downloaded.
September is National Campus Fire Safety Month, and many governors are issuing proclamations.
Comeau said he’s hoping that this academic year also is one with no students killed.
On Thursday, Boston fire officials visited with students as they moved into their dorms, apartments and houses.
On his website, Campus Firewatch, there's a checklist that students should consider as they choose a residence.
Among the items students should note when they choose a residence include:
- Are there smoke alarms in every bedroom, on every level of the building?
- In most fatal fires, the smoke alarms are missing or disabled. Often, a reason for this is nuisance alarms caused by cooking. Photoelectric smoke alarms near the kitchen can help cut down on this. What kind of smoke alarms do you have?
- Exits - Are there two ways out of every bedroom? Keep in mind the second way out may be a window.
- If a window is the second way out, does it open? Is it blocked by an air conditioner? Can you climb out of it? Are there security bars on the window?
- If the bedroom is on a second or third floor, do you have an escape ladder? These can be purchased online or in a home improvement store.
- Is there a second way out of the house or unit? Every apartment must have two ways out.
- Is the second way out blocked by storage in the stairs such as bicycles or trash cans? Is the snow removed from the door and steps so you can get away from the building?
