Though much of the information was basic, community and fire officials thought it was worth reviewing fire safety tips for students yesterday, a week after the fire that killed a senior who lived in a Knox Box.
Off-Campus Housing Services held a meeting yesterday in Stamp Student Union to inform students about fire safety, prevention and survival. The university’s fire marshal, Alan Sactor, stressed the importance of having working smoke alarms, plans of escape and a general knowledge about fire safety.
“Fire education is important, it may save your life,” said Sactor. “The most important thing is to get out, everything inside is replaceable, your life isn’t.”
This was the first time university officials held a fire-prevention meeting, which was targeted to off-campus students, said Adrienne Hamcke Wicker, assistant director of Off-Campus Housing Services. Home Depot of College Park also donated 25 battery-operated smoke alarms that were handed out at the end of the meeting.
“We have held ‘Fire Prevention’ weeks in the past and hosted informational booths, but this is the first meeting of its kind,” she said.
University Commuters Association worked closely with Off-Campus Housing Services to promote the meeting. UCA President Jahantab Siddiqui said although the university has no jurisdiction on housing outside of the campus, it can educate students on their rights as tenants.
Fewer than 10 students attended the meeting yesterday; however, those who were there said they found the meeting helpful.
“It’s great that they’re offering this meeting,” said senior kinesiology major Megan Buckley, who lives in Hartwick Towers. “I just wish more students would have come.”
Buckley admitted she already knew most of the information, but said “not having seen it since freshman year, being reminded by the fire marshal was very helpful.”
Students living in on-campus housing are required to watch fire safety videos and participate in building-wide fire drills. Posters about fire safety and prevention and directions about evacuating the building are supposed to be posted throughout the hallways and on every floor. However, this is not the case for students living off-campus.
“We did not receive any literature about fire safety or escape routes,” said senior accounting major Roger Fox, who lives in University View. “I looked around my floor, and I didn’t see any type of fire precautions except the sign on the elevator warning against taking it in case of a fire.”
Yesterday’s meeting is the only one planned through Off-Campus Housing Services for this semester. However, the UCA is planning a “Student as Tenant” meeting in March.
“The key is to get students to learn about what constitutes good living conditions and to know their rights as tenants,” Siddiqui said.
Contact reporter Salome Eguizabal at newsdesk@dbk.umd.edu.
