Up in smoke: SFA students reminded of fire threat
November 16, 2009
Students at Stephen F. Austin State University were reminded on Monday of the incredible speed at which a small fire can become a raging inferno during a burning demonstration of a mock dorm room.
Sean Black, who is a safety technician for SFA and works full time for the Nacogdoches Fire Department, said that of the more than 3,500 fires that occurred on college campuses from 2003 to 2006 in this country, 75 percent started from cooking equipment.
Because SFA only has two residence halls where cooking equipment in dorms is permissible, Black said the school is already ahead of the curve when it comes to fire safety. But there's nothing like using a burning bedroom to drive the message home, he said.
"We're doing this because we want the students to know exactly how important it is to get out of the building when the alarm goes off," Black said. "There are numerous false alarms on campus every year, and we don't want them to get complacent and stay inside when they should really be getting out quickly."
The SFA housing department and other staff from the university worked all day to build the 10-by-10 room on the intramural fields. Covered in dirty clothes and with posters on the wall, the room was set on fire when firefighters started the blaze inside the trash can next to the bed.
In under three minutes, the entire room was engulfed in flames, and thick black smoke was pouring out and floating south toward Pecan Park.
"If we can show today how fast a fire can get out of control, then maybe it will stick with them, and they'll leave whenever they hear the alarm," Black said moments before the blaze began.
Among other things, extension cords, which Black said are never meant to be used as a permanent energy source, are not allowed in dorm rooms. For obvious reasons, portable stove tops are also not allowed. Black reminded those in attendance that Christmas lights, which are a popular decoration for college dorm rooms, are only certified to last for 90 days and should be thrown out after that.
Smokey The Bear was also on hand, and a virtual fire extinguisher that put out computerized flames on a screen was also on exhibit during the safety demonstration.
Next year, Black said he hopes to hold the same event during October to coincide with National Fire Safety Month. But because of weather, the event had to be postponed until Monday.