American Society of Safety Engineers Urge Students to Stop Fires Before They Start

DES PLAINES, IL (September 14, 2009) – Each year many students lose their lives or are injured in preventable fires.  As students move into college residence halls, off-campus housing or fraternity/sorority houses for the school year, the American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) Fire Protection Practice Specialty (PS) urges them to be aware of life-saving fire prevention knowledge. ASSE has prepared and is distributing free fire safety tip sheets and a flier with information on how students can stay safe.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 3,570 structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and barracks in 2003-2006. These fires caused an annual average of seven civilian deaths, 54 civilian fire injuries and $29.4 million in property damage. Most of these fires were caused by the use of cooking equipment.

“Every year we hear of repeated tragedies involving college students injured and killed in fires.  Many of these deaths are due to a general lack of knowledge about fire safety and prevention,” said ASSE Fire Protection PS Administrator Frank Baker, CSP, CFPS. “Although many college residential fire incidents occur off-campus, they involve students nonetheless and point out the need to be aware of the risk of fire and how devastating the results can be in any situation where many persons occupy a single structure.” 

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ASSE On/Off-Campus Fire Prevention Fact Sheets

Fire Prevention Press Releases

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