Fire Safety Day set for Wednesday
College campuses around the Magnolia State are turning their attention to fire safety this month, and officials at Mississippi State are using the opportunity to increase fire safety awareness at the land-grant institution.
As part of the campaign, the university's Office of Regulatory Compliance and Safety (ORC&S) and the Starkville Fire Department have planned a day of fire safety activities and displays, including free giveaways, exhibits and fire extinguisher "how to" lessons. It all takes place Wednesday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the north side of Colvard Student Union.
Representatives from the State Fire Marshal's Office and Columbus Air Force Base are participating, as well.
"Everyone is responsible for preventing fires and knowing how to handle a fire emergency, and we believe that raising awareness and sharing information about how to do that go hand in hand," said ORC&S director Kacey Strickland. "Fire safety day is the perfect time for to learn more about what can be done to reduce fire risks and enhance safety on campus."
In the event of rain, the event will be canceled.
ORC&S works closely with the MAFES risk management team and local firefighters to provide fire prevention and safety resources throughout the year, Strickland added.
According to the Fire Marshal's Office in Jackson, since January 2005 there have been 14 reported campus-based building fires in the state: nine in residence halls or barracks, four in fraternity or sorority houses and one in a non-residential building. There were three on-campus fired-related deaths and an additional death in an off-campus fire involving a full-time student in that time period, the office said.
None of those deaths occurred at Mississippi State, Strickland said.
The most common factors cited by the fire marshal's office in campus-related fatal fires since 2000 are missing or disabled smoke alarms; careless disposal of smoking materials; impaired judgment from alcohol consumption; and lack of automatic fire sprinklers in off-campus housing, where more than 80% of campus-related fires take place.
For additional information about the Sept. 21 fire safety activities, contact Strickland at kstrickland@research.msstate.edu or 662-325-3294.
Jim Laird | University Relations
