September is Campus Fire Prevention Month: Fire safety doesn't end at the campus boundary
Whether you live in a residence hall, apartment, house or Greek housing, fire safety matters wherever you call home.
For many Wichita State University students, campus is only one part of their daily routine. After classes, work, studying or activities, they return to an apartment, house, Greek residence or other off-campus housing. But leaving campus doesn't mean leaving fire safety behind.
In fact, where you live may be the place where you spend the most time — including the hours when you're asleep and least able to recognize a developing fire.
The Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) recognizes off-campus student housing as an important part of campus fire safety and provides resources specifically designed to help students understand the fire and life-safety conditions of the places where they live.
Here are some things every Shocker should consider.
1. Make sure you have working smoke alarms
A smoke alarm can provide the warning you need to escape a fire before conditions become dangerous.
If you live off campus, don't assume that because a smoke alarm is mounted on the wall, it is working properly. Know where the smoke alarms are located and make sure they are not damaged, disabled or covered.
Test them according to the manufacturer's instructions and notify your landlord or property manager if an alarm is missing, damaged or not functioning properly.
Never disable a smoke alarm because it is inconvenient.
If cooking causes nuisance alarms, address the cause of the problem rather than remove the protection.
2. Know two ways out
As discussed in week one, knowing two ways out can make a difference during a fire. That applies at home as well.
Look at your bedroom, apartment, house or residence and identify two ways you can escape. Don't just think about the front door.
Consider:
- Is there another door I can use?
- Is there a second stairway?
- Can I safely escape through a window if necessary?
- Are the exits unlocked and accessible?
- Could I find my way out in the dark or through smoke?
If you live with roommates, make sure everyone knows the plan.
3. Know what is protecting you while you sleep
When choosing where to live, make fire protection part of the decision.
CCFS recommends that students consider whether housing has working smoke alarms and automatic fire sprinklers and whether there are adequate escape routes.
- Before signing a lease, ask questions such as:
- Are smoke alarms installed and working?
- Is the residence equipped with automatic fire sprinklers?
- Are there two ways out of sleeping areas?
- Are exit doors accessible?
- Are fire extinguishers provided where required?
- When were the fire alarm and sprinkler systems last inspected?
Fire safety is something worth asking about before you sign the lease — not after you move in.
4. Keep your escape routes clear
A hallway cluttered with shoes, boxes, furniture or other belongings may not seem like a serious problem during normal daily life, but during a fire, it can become an obstacle.
Keep hallways, stairways, doors and other escape routes clear. Don't store bicycles, scooters, boxes, furniture or other belongings in stairways or in front of exits. Remember: you may have to escape in darkness, smoke or a panicked situation.
The easiest escape route is the one you can use without obstacles.
5. Close doors behind you
Doors can play an important role in slowing the movement of fire and smoke. If you are evacuating and it is safe to do so, close doors behind you, and don't prop fire doors open.
A closed door can help separate people from fire and smoke and provide additional time to escape.
6. Practice cooking safety at home
Many students prepare their own meals for the first time when they move away from home. The same cooking-safety principles discussed in week two also apply wherever you live.
- Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling
- Keep anything that can burn away from the stovetop
- Don't leave cooking unattended
And remember, never put water on a grease fire. If a small grease fire occurs, turn off the heat if it is safe to do so and slide a lid over the pan to smother the flames. Never attempt to move a burning pan.
If you are unsure what to do, get out and call 911.
7. Be careful with electricity
Off-campus housing often means having more control over how you arrange your electronics. That doesn't mean more electrical outlets.
- Avoid overloading outlets and power strips
- Never connect power strips or extension cords together
- Don't use damaged cords, and don't run electrical cords where they can be damaged or become a trip hazard
If you regularly need extension cords to power equipment, consider whether the electrical system is adequate for your needs.
If something doesn't look or feel right, stop using it and report the problem.
8. Think about how and where you charge batteries
E-bikes, scooters, phones, laptops and other battery-powered devices are increasingly common in student housing. Follow the manufacturer's charging instructions and use the charger designed for the device.
- Don't charge damaged batteries or use damaged charging equipment
- Keep charging equipment away from combustible materials and avoid placing batteries where they can be damaged
If your housing provider has specific rules regarding e-bikes, scooters or lithium-ion batteries, know and follow those rules.
9. Know what your landlord is responsible for — and what you're responsible for
Students don't always know what they should be looking for or what questions they should ask a landlord.
CCFS provides a “Questions for Landlords” resource specifically to help students understand fire and life-safety issues in rental housing.
Ask your landlord or property manager about:
- Smoke alarms
- Fire sprinklers
- Fire extinguishers
- Emergency exits
- Fire doors
- Electrical systems
- Maintenance and inspection of fire-protection equipment
If you report a fire-safety problem, keep a record of when you reported it and what response you received, and if you believe a condition presents an immediate danger, don't put yourself at risk while waiting for it to be corrected.
Your five-minute fire-safety challenge
This week's challenge is to inspect the place where you live.
- Test your smoke alarms
- Identify two ways out
- Make sure your escape routes are clear
- Find the nearest fire extinguisher, if one is provided
- Look for an automatic fire sprinkler system
Then ask yourself:
If a fire started while I was asleep tonight, would I know how to get out? If the answer is no, take five minutes today to make a plan.
Learn more about campus fire safety
The Center for Campus Fire Safety is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the loss of life from fire on college and university campuses. CCFS provides educational programs and resources for students, educators and the greater campus community.
For more student fire safety information and tips, visit Campus Fire and Life Safety for Students.