September is National Campus Fire Safety Month

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 8, 2014) — As safety is a priority for the University of Kentucky, its annual fire safety campaign is underway during the month of September, recognized on campuses around the country as National Campus Fire Safety Month -- now in its 10th year. 

UK's Fire Marshal's Office has already been in full swing conducting educational safety events on campus, with more scheduled.  From 10 a.m.–2 p.m.  Wednesday, Sept. 10, the Fire Marshal's Office will  have a fire demonstration using the UK Mobile Burn Trailer, give out free T-shirts, and conduct fire extinguisher training on the front lawn of the Main Building.  The Lexington Fire department will also be there. The actual burn demonstration is scheduled for 11:50 a.m. and offers a dramatic visual experience.

“We will set up a replica of a typical residence hall on campus using the same building construction and furniture (donated by UK Housing), and we introduce a small flame to it — letting it continue until it is free burning,” said UK Assistant Fire Marshal Jason Ellis. “The room is completely involved in fire in about three minutes, but the smoke produced form the fire makes the room untenable in about one minute. 

Ellis said the demonstration shows how quickly a dangerous situation can develop and stresses the importance of immediately responding to a fire alarm by evacuating the building. "Even with two fire stations on either side of our campus and an average response time  of four-five minutes, you are looking at a dangerous fire situation and a potential fatal situation if you do not respond and evacuate the building.”

The UK Fire Marshal’s Office  conducted a similar demonstration at Kirwan/Blanding complex  Sept. 3, using the mobile burn trailer. 

Tasked with the responsibility to maintain a fire safe campus at UK, the Fire Marshal’s Office actively pursues fire prevention and safety throughout the year.  The UK Fire Marshal’s office conducts fire safety training, evacuation and fire drills, and offers free fire extinguisher training for all UK and community constituents. 

“We have lost 166 people in college-related fires across the nation since January 2000,” Ellis said.  “September's National Campus Fire Safety Month is the springboard for our office to introduce new fire prevention training and fire safety programs throughout campus in an effort to prevent a fire incident from occurring.”

Twenty-four states have issued a proclamation in 2014 recognizing September as National Campus Fire Safety Month, including Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear.  The Commonwealth is one of only a few states to have issued this proclamation every year since the project’s inception.

The UK Fire Marshal's Office is also responsible for fire and life safety inspections for all UK facilities, code enforcement, and plan review for all construction projects up to $1 million.  For more information about the office and its events, visit their website at http://ehs.uky.edu/fire.  For the latest news, like them on Facebook and follow on twitter @ukfiremarshal.  For more information, contact Jason Ellis at jasomellis@uky.edu and at 257-6326.