5 College Fire Safety Facts You May Not Know

Five College Fire Safety Facts You May Not Know

 

In honor of Campus Fire Safety Month, we hope to help inform and empower students and your families about fire safety and the ways you can help better protect your living space. With so much going on at school, between classes, exams and papers, it may seem like a hassle to take  a few minutes to check your smoke dectectors or map out the best routes out of your room in the case of an emergency. However, the risk of fire is real, and even if you are conscientious, someone in another dorm room or apartment in your building may not be.

Still not convinced? Here are five facts that highlight the need for fire safety diligence on and off campus at college:

  • In 2009, the most recent year’s data available, there were more than 3,740 dormitory fires. That’s about one per U.S. campus. (source) Tweet this
  • A leading cause of campus fires is cooking, with cooking equipment involved in 75 percent of the reported dormitory fires. (source) Tweet this
  • Although only five percent of fires in campus housing began int he bedroom, these fires accounted for 62 percent of the civilian deaths and one-quarter (26 percent) of the civilian injuries. (source)  Tweet this
  • Campus fires are more common during the evening hours between 5-11pm, as well as on weekends. (source)  Tweet this
  • Four out of five campus-related fire deaths happen off-campus, where most students live. (source) Tweet this

Whether you’re living on campus or off, the risks of fire are real. Make sure you have a plan in place for the semester.

Watch how easy it is for a fire to start and how to protect your belongings from fire: