In July, a group of fire officials from cities and towns across Massachusetts that have colleges in their communities met at NFPA to discuss the upcoming school year and a perennial challenge: how to start and end the college year without a significant fire tragedy on or around their campuses.
The fears of local fire officials are not without merit. According to “Campus Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2000–2015),” a recent report published by the United States Fire Administration (USFA), there were 85 fatal fires with 118 fatalities in dorms, frats, sororities, and off-campus housing during the 16 academic years examined in the study. Additional facts supported their concerns: nearly all (94 percent) of the fires occurred in off-campus housing; alcohol was a factor in 76 percent of the fires; most fires occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday; and nearly 60 percent of the fires occurred in homes where smoke alarms were either missing or had been tampered with. These statistics provide important data to inform campaigns aimed at reducing these fires and keeping college kids safe. They lead fire and safety officials to focus on off-campus housing and the lifesaving benefits of smoke alarms and escape planning.