Fire Safety in Greek Housing
Presented by:
Jerry McMullen – Fire Inspector
Bernadette Galvez – Community Education Officer
City of Madison Fire Department
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• Order of tonight's presentation
– Introductions and sign in
– PowerPoint
– Discussion about building occupancy
limits
– Discussion about required sprinkler
systems
– Discussion about Halloween
– Discussion about Greek Fire Academy
– Questions (and answers hopefully)
– What can we do for you?
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• Introductions
– Jerry McMullen – Madison Fire Department
• Downtown Fire Inspector, MFD – 4 years
• Captain, DVFD – 6 years
– Bernadette Galvez – Madison Fire Department
• Community Education Officer, MFD – 10 years
• Juvenile Fire Setter Trained
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• Fire Safety
– What does it mean to
you?
– How do you practice
it in YOUR house?
– How are most fires
started in residential
settings?
– Can you help
prevent this?
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• What can happen if
you don’t practice
fire safety?
– Injury
– Death
– Lawsuits
– Disfigurement
– Disability
– Ruined life
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• What has happened?
– 7 students dead THIS year alone
• Nicole Bingham, 21, Kansas University
• David Ellis, 23, University of Maryland
• Waylon Boots, 23, Pittsburg State University
• Stephen Hayes, 21, Pittsburg State University
• Krystal Bridge, 19, University of Alaska
• Chris Ihde, 22, University of Alaska
• Nancy Douglas, Southwestern Oregon CC
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• What has happened?
– 145 students dead in the last 25 years
– Over 2500 injured in the last 25 years
– Several billion dollars of damage
– Students (YOU!) and families that lose:
• Loved ones
• Friends
• Property
• Their own lives
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• What can you do to reduce the risk?
– Common sense
– Be responsible for the house you live in
– Don’t participate in risky behavior
– Common sense
– Common sense
– COMMON SENSE!!!!
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• What can you watch
for?
– Fire doors
– Smoke alarms
– Fire alarms
– Sprinkler systems
– Cigarettes/candles
– Extinguisher
– Exit/emergency
lights
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• Fire doors
– Do NOT prop open
– Must close and latch
– Protect the building
from spread of flame
– Protect your exit
from smoke and heat
– Important part of
building design
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• Smoke alarms
– Battery or hardwired
– Check monthly
– Do NOT remove the
battery
– Alerts property
occupants that the
air is obscured
– Most common fire
prevention system
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• Fire alarms
– May have smoke
detectors / pull
stations
– Designed to wake
everyone in the house
– May or may not alert
fire department
– Do NOT disable
system.
– Get out if it fire alarm
is sounding
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• Sprinkler systems
– Best system for life
safety in residential
housing
– Contains fire, allowing
occupants to escape
– Do NOT disable
system
– Do NOT hang
anything from piping
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• Cigarettes/candles
– Cause of many
student fires
– Candles are not
allowed in rooms
– Incense is just as bad
– Monitor parties and
check for cigarettes
in the furniture
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• Fire extinguishers
– Life safety system
– Can be used to put
out fires smaller than
a wastebasket
– Do NOT shoot off
– Must be hung on
wall or in a box
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• Emergency/exit
lights
– Life safety system
– Most exit lights have
battery backup
– Emergency lights
should operate a
minimum of 90
minutes
– Do NOT disable
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• Fire safety and prevention
– Common sense
– Personal responsibility
– Looking out for each other
– The right thing to do
– Common sense
– Lack of accountability
Fire Safety in Greek Housing
• What are we doing about fire safety?
– Trainings just like these
– Fire prevention workshops in schools
– Retroactive code application
– Sprinkler systems
– Greek Fire Academy
– Trying to raise pride in your houses