Fire Safety - Choosing An Off-Campus Residence
Almost 80 percent of the fire fatalities experienced by university and college students have occurred in off-campus occupancies such as rented houses and apartments. Common factors in a number of these fires include:
- Lack of automatic fire sprinklers
- Disabled smoke alarms
- Careless disposal of smoking materials
- Alcohol consumption
While University residence halls comply with fire codes, the same cannot be said for every off-campus apartment complex or rooming house. If you choose to live off-campus, we encourage you to follow these tips in selecting a residence:
- Choose fire-safe housing that includes automatic fire sprinklers.
- Ensure that your apartment or residence has smoke alarms on every level and ensure that they are working at all times.
- Select a residence that offers two ways out. In fact, this is a good rule no matter where you location is, such as a residence hall, your house or apartment, a restaurant, or a movie theater.
- If your residence has a smoke alarm that is being activated needlessly, such as by cooking or steam from a shower, relocate the smoke alarm instead of disabling it.
- Ensure that you and your guests properly dispose of smoking material by using ashtrays.
- Do not position halogen lamps near combustible such as drapes.
- After parties, checking the cushions on couches and chairs to make sure there are not any lit cigarettes smoldering.
- Learn how to use a fire extinguisher BEFORE a fire breaks out.
- Properly use extension cords and electrical appliances.
For more information on fire safety, please visit the following web sites: