Governor Lynch Declares September 2010 As Campus Fire Safety Month

Governor John Lynch has joined State Fire Marshal Bill Degnan in encouraging parents and students to promote fire safety in student housing they will reside in as they head off to college this fall. Governor Lynch has signed a proclamation to declare September 2010 as Campus Fire Safety Month.

"College is an exciting time in a young person's life and as our young people go off to college we want to help ensure their college experience is a safe one," said Governor Lynch.

State Fire Marshal Bill Degnan added, "all of the University System of New Hampshire dormitories have automatic fire sprinklers installed, that same level of protection is not prevalent in the off campus housing and unfortunately is not required in most of those occupancies."

A common cause for fires in off campus housing is careless disposal of smoking materials and also have started on porches where couches and other combustible furniture can commonly be found. This type of fire traditionally breaks out in the middle of the night, spreading rapidly into the house trapping and possibly killing the students sleeping inside.

Nationally four out of five deaths in the college setting occur in off campus housing. Parents can help increase their child's chance of survival in a fire by:

• Is there a couch or other combustible furniture on the front porch? A study has shown that most of the time this furniture has been left by previous tenants. It should have been removed by the landlord prior to renting the house.
• Are there two ways out of the house? If your child is living in an upper floor, the second way out might be through a window – does the window work and is it large enough to climb through? Providing them with an escape ladder could save his or her life. The same applies for basement apartments – are there two ways out and if your child has to use a window to get out, is it big enough?
• Does the house have smoke alarms? If not, the landlord should install them. Smoke alarms should be on every floor and in every bedroom. Interconnected smoke alarms help to alert all the occupants to a fire and there are now wireless smoke alarms that can be easily installed. If the landlord won't do it, buy them and install them yourself when you are helping to move in your child, then notify the local fire authority. Smoke alarms are inexpensive compared to the life they can save.
• Does the house have smoke alarms? If not, the landlord should install them. Smoke alarms should be on every floor and in every bedroom. Interconnected smoke alarms help to alert all the occupants to a fire and there are now wireless smoke alarms that can be easily installed. If the landlord won't do it, buy them and install them yourself when you are helping to move in your child, then notify the local fire authority. Smoke alarms are inexpensive compared to the life they can save.
• Tell your son or daughter that they should NEVER disable a smoke alarm. So often, after a fatal fire, investigators find the smoke alarms without batteries in them. Studies are showing that photoelectric or new technology smoke alarms designed to reduce nascence alarms are commonly available, are less likely to be disabled and will be working when needed – during a fire.
• Automatic fire sprinklers are the most effective method of controlling a fire when it breaks out and saving lives. Communities across the nation are beginning to require these systems in newer homes, but unfortunately off-campus student housing is so often in older buildings. Look for buildings equipped with these life-saving systems.

Love alone doesn't save the children but practicing fire safety did, says President of the New Hampshire Association of Fire Chiefs, Chief Shawn Murray of Hudson. According to Chief Murray the local fire departments or the State Fire Marshal's Office stand ready to assist you to help in determining the appropriate level of safety.