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Going to college is an exciting time for students and their parents. Living in a new “home away from home” not only gives young adults more freedom to make their own choices, but it also provides them an increased level of personal responsibility while at school.

When it comes to on- and off-campus housing, it’s important for students and parents to keep fire safety top of mind. Here is everything you need to know about fire safety on campus!

Campus Fire Safety- Facts and Stats

  • 94 percent of fatal campus fires occurred off-campus.
  • Smoking (29 percent) was the leading cause of fatal campus fires.
  • Alcohol was a factor in 76 percent of fatal campus fires.
  • Smoke alarms were either missing or tampered with (disconnected or battery removed) in 58 percent of fatal campus fires.
  • Fire sprinklers were not present in any of the 85 fatal campus fires.
  • 70 percent of fatal campus fires occurred on the weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).
  • 73 percent of the fatal fires occurred between midnight and 6 a.m.
  • April was the peak month (13 percent) for fatal fires in campus housing.
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To increase fire safety for apartment dwellers, NFPA offers the following guidelines:

Cooking

  • Cook only where it is allowed.
  • Keep your cooking area clean and free of anything that can burn.
  • If a fire starts in a microwave, keep the door closed and unplug the unit.
  • Keep an eye on what you are cooking, especially if you are cooking at high temperatures.

Smoking

  • Make sure cigarettes and ashes are out.
  • Never toss hot cigarettes butts or ashes in the trash can.
  • Use deep, wide ashtrays.
  • Place ashtrays on something sturdy and hard to burn.
  • Don’t smoke when you have been drinking or are drowsy.
  • After a party, check for cigarette butts, especially under cushions. Chairs and sofas catch on fire fast and burn fast.

Electrical safety

  • Keep lamps, light fixtures, and light bulbs away from anything that can burn.
  • Never use an extension cord with large appliances, like a refrigerator.
  • Do not overload outlets.Use only surge protectors or power strips that have internal overload protection.

Downloadable Resources

Quick Tips to Share

Share these graphics with your family and friends! We encourage you to print these and also share on social media.

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Source for Content: National Fire Protection Association and U.S. Fire Administration

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The Church Hill Volunteer Fire Company protects lives and property through the aggressive delivery of Safety Education, Fire Prevention, Disaster Management, Firefighting, Rescue and Emergency Medical Services by providing a highly trained and well-equipped team of Professional Volunteer Firefighters.

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