West Virginia University Students Experience Hands-On Fire Safety

Environmental Health and Safety sponsored a fire safety awareness programs along with the Morgantown Fire Department last Wednesday and Saturday. Students attending "Up in Smoke" were taught general fire prevention and safety tips while getting the opportunity to put out a simulated trash can fire with a fire extinguisher, escape the Haze Maze, a smoke filled room, and try and walk a straight path while wearing the disorienting "drunk goggles." Hundreds of students participated in the program at the Evansdale residence halls and the Mountainlair. Many left the program with free t-shirts, hats and some fire safety skills that go beyond stop, drop and roll.

"I just see some guy out here setting fires," said senior Scott Baczuzz, 22. He put out a propane fueled fire raging in the free speech zone in front of the 'Lair on Saturday. "I've never, ever, ever experienced something like this." John Hyman of the WVU Safety and Health Extension helped Baczuzz subdue the fire by commanding, "sweep back and forth, aim at the base." Hyman, who was a fire fighter for 7 years, thinks the whole thing is "pretty cool," but noted, "when it's a real fire, it isn't nearly as much fun."

A small room on the first floor of the Mountainlair was filled with theater smoke and typical apartment furniture in order to show students just how difficult it is to see in a fire. "I don't see how firemen do it," said freshman Dominick Croupa,18 after emerging from the Haze Maze. "It brings things to light," said freshman Tyler GoodyKoontz, 18. "It shows you how blind you really are." Captain David Dzurhak of the Morgantown Fire Department thinks the maze is especially important because "most people don't realize how much you can't see." Matt Russel, 21, was involved in a real residence fire, but still found the simulation frightening. "I was scared to death in there," said Russel. "I just followed the wall 'till I found the way out," Russel said.

Organizers were especially concerned about students leaving the dorms and living in off campus housing for the first time. "You're on your own out there," said Terry Konchesky of Environmental Health and Safety, citing sprinkler systems, escape routes, and trained residence assistants as major reasons why dorm living is so much safer than off campus housing. Another important objective was giving students a real life experience they would remember. "It's one thing to tell some one something, but it's something else to let them do it themselves," said Mike Tranton of EH&S. He and the others involved in the program believe the "more alive" experience will help students better remember fire safety strategies and hopefully, save lives.

According to Campus Firewatch, a weekly electronic newsletter focusing on campus fires safety, this past academic year was one of the deadliest in terms of fire related campus deaths with 20 killed. The same organization, which has been recording campus fire deaths since 2000, also reports that the vast majority of campus fire deaths occur in off campus housing.

Up in Smoke has been going on for several years now, both during the academic year and over the summer. Past programs have included flooding an entire floor of Ogelbay Hall with non-toxic smoke and having RA's and facilities management make there way out and setting fire to a fully furnished living room with a glass viewing panel in order to show students how quickly a fire spreads. "If it helps one student save his or her life it's worth it," Captain Dzurhak said.