2008 Woodie Awards
Fire safety dept. offers advice for fire prevention week
Jenn Halligan
Issue date: 10/8/07 Section: Features
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On Oct. 8 and Oct. 9 in 1871, the Great Chicago Fire burned roughly an area of four miles long and three-fourths of a mile wide. It destroyed roughly 34 blocks of Chicago, and out of the 300,000 residents of Chicago at the time, roughly 90,000 were left homeless.
In 1925, the week containing Oct. 8 and 9 was designated as Fire Prevention Week to remember those in the Great Chicago Fire and to raise awareness of the dangers of fire.
Here at West Chester University, the fire safety department raises awareness over the campus as well.
Each year, the National Fire Protection Association picks a theme for that year's Fire Prevention Week.
This year, it is "Practice your escape plan," which Fire Safety Specialist Dan Kerrigan believes is an excellent theme for WCU.
"It is a really good one for [West Chester University] because we're very concerned with making sure people get out of buildings and residence halls when there is a problem," Kerrigan said. "[Fire Prevention Week] is really a heightened promotion of something you should be paying attention to on a regular basis."
The fire safety department of WCU holds fire drills on a monthly basis in all of the residence halls, including South Campus. All residence halls have to hold fire drills during all three shifts - daytime, evening and overnight.
In addition, all of the academic and office buildings must do them as well. All Resident Assistants are trained in fire safety.
As for alerting the students of a fire, there are two smoke alarm systems in all residence halls. The first one is the actual alarm that goes off when it identifies smoke in the air. The second one is the sprinkler that only goes off if the core begins to get hot or if somebody knocks into it. The sprinkler is known to release approximately 30 gallons of water per minute.
Any student should remember that when using the dorm's kitchen or the kitchen in their off-campus housing, pay attention to what is being cooked.
In 1925, the week containing Oct. 8 and 9 was designated as Fire Prevention Week to remember those in the Great Chicago Fire and to raise awareness of the dangers of fire.
Here at West Chester University, the fire safety department raises awareness over the campus as well.
Each year, the National Fire Protection Association picks a theme for that year's Fire Prevention Week.
This year, it is "Practice your escape plan," which Fire Safety Specialist Dan Kerrigan believes is an excellent theme for WCU.
"It is a really good one for [West Chester University] because we're very concerned with making sure people get out of buildings and residence halls when there is a problem," Kerrigan said. "[Fire Prevention Week] is really a heightened promotion of something you should be paying attention to on a regular basis."
The fire safety department of WCU holds fire drills on a monthly basis in all of the residence halls, including South Campus. All residence halls have to hold fire drills during all three shifts - daytime, evening and overnight.
In addition, all of the academic and office buildings must do them as well. All Resident Assistants are trained in fire safety.
As for alerting the students of a fire, there are two smoke alarm systems in all residence halls. The first one is the actual alarm that goes off when it identifies smoke in the air. The second one is the sprinkler that only goes off if the core begins to get hot or if somebody knocks into it. The sprinkler is known to release approximately 30 gallons of water per minute.
Any student should remember that when using the dorm's kitchen or the kitchen in their off-campus housing, pay attention to what is being cooked.
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