Cornell room-burn event demonstrates fire safety, Aug. 14
ITHACA, N.Y. -- To remind students heading back to school about the importance of fire safety, Cornell University's Department of Environmental Health and Safety and the Ithaca Fire Department will demonstrate how quickly fire spreads in a room on Thursday, Aug. 14, at 4 p.m. on the Cornell campus.
(Media-Newswire.com) - ITHACA, N.Y. -- To remind students heading back to school about the importance of fire safety, Cornell University's Department of Environmental Health and Safety and the Ithaca Fire Department will demonstrate how quickly fire spreads in a room on Thursday, Aug. 14, at 4 p.m. on the Cornell campus.
A mock room, complete with furniture and clothing, will be set on fire to show what can happen when a lit candle falls into a trashcan. The demonstration will take place in the Appel Community Commons parking lot on Cornell's North Campus.
The demonstration is part of safety training for resident assistants ( RAs ) in Cornell's residence halls. In addition to observing the room burn, RAs will receive training in the proper use of fire extinguishers, beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the same location.
All residence halls at Cornell are protected by fire alarms and sprinkler systems. Fire officials also hope to reach out to the students who live off-campus.
Nationally, since January 2000, there have been 129 campus-related fire fatalities, 108 off-campus, 10 in residence halls and 10 in fraternity/sorority housing, according to Campus Firewatch ( www.campus-firewatch.com ). There were 20 campus-related fire fatalities in 2006-07 and 18 so far in 2007-08, nationwide.
Cornell Campus Life, Cornell Environmental Health and Safety and the Ithaca Fire Department, in cooperation with the Cayuga Heights Fire Department are sponsoring the demonstration.
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