This is the first in a four-part series highlighting National Campus Fire Safety Month
The focus of National Campus Fire Safety Month is to be prepared in the event of a fire on campus, and UH Fire Marshal Bob Bowden is here to make sure students, faculty and staff are able to take the heat.
The University experienced only two fires in residential areas in 2007. A fire in March attributed to arson is the only reported fire of 2008, Bowden said. These fires caused an estimated $6,100 in property damage, and no injuries or deaths resulted from the blazes.
"Your building should have an evacuation plan – learn it and participate in all fire drills," Bowden said. "It is important for students to know exactly where building exits are located because they may have to find them in the dark."
According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments responded to 3,300 structural fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities and barracks in 2002-2005. These fires caused $25 million in direct property damage, with cooking equipment involved in 72 percent of those fires.
Bowden recommends leaving immediately after hearing an alarm and closing doors behind you as you go. This slows down the spread of fire and smoke, he said. Purses, wallets, laptops and keys should be brought along if possible. If an escape can’t be made, returning to the room and calling for help is the best idea.
The NFPA reported fires in dorms, fraternities, sororities and barracks are more common during evening hours and on weekends. Bowden said maintaining smoke alarms and never removing their batteries is one way to protect the population of these buildings.
"The best protection is a building with a fire sprinkler system," Bowden said.
He warns against hanging anything from sprinkler pipes or nozzles, as this may affect the system’s performance.
Fire extinguishers are essential tools in keeping small fires from getting out of hand, and can also be used to clear a path to safety if necessary, he said.
"If the building has sprinklers, extinguishers are required in corridors approximately every 75 feet," Bowden said. "Buildings with kitchens but without sprinklers are required to have a small extinguisher in every apartment and throughout the complex."
Students with disabilities should make sure that they are included in their building’s escape planning, he said. A working flashlight should always be kept handy to help navigate during evacuation.
For more information on campus fire safety, contact Bowden at (713) 743-5866 or visit www.campusfiresafetymonth.org.
