Mock Dorm Room Burn event scheduled

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and Fire and Safety Technologists (FAST), a student organization that focuses on educating the public about fire safety, will host a Mock Dorm Room Burn demonstration and fire safety fair at noon, Thursday, Nov. 21. The event will take place on Recreation Field 14A, across from Robinson Hall.

Students from FAST began building the mock dorm rooms on Thursday, Nov. 14. The rooms will include everyday household items such as chairs, couches, posters and bedding similar to what students have in their residence halls or apartments.

The demo will provide students first-hand knowledge on how to get out and stay safe in the event of a fire in their residence halls, apartments or homes.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Fire Department will start a fire in two mock dorm rooms, one with a fire sprinkler system and one without beginning around 12:15 p.m. Attendees will observe how long it takes for the smoke detector to sound and the sprinklers to initiate and extinguish the blaze.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, dorm room fires are common during the evening hours, between 6 and 11 p.m. or on weekends. Roughly six out of seven fires are started by cooking. Many dorm rooms are crowded with flammable materials such as clothing, posters, bedding and books. When a fire is started, it can engulf the entire room quickly.

Students also will have the opportunity to visit the fire safety fair with interactive games, giveaways, fire extinguisher training and a photo booth station with Norm. Also co-sponsors Charlotte Mecklenburg Fire Department, Police and Public Safety, Emergency Management, the Student Government Association and FAST will provide fire safety information.