GUEST COLUMN: Fire tips from a pro
In the March 5 issue of the Statesman, the editors printed an editorial in “Our View” regarding the lack of fire extinguishers in the Aggie Parking Terrace. The editorial was in response to a vehicle fire in the Aggie Terrace on March 6. The editors indicated that fire extinguishers in the structure would improve the safety of students. In reality, a student or anyone else attempting put out a car fire in an enclosed area such as the terrace, put themselves at great risk. Here’s why.
Cars are made from many different types of plastics, synthetic materials and also contain gasoline, oil, rubber, etc. All of these products put out very toxic fumes and gases which can render a person unconscious in a very short time, and result in severe injuries to the lungs, eyes, skin, etc., and could cause death. These products, when set ablaze, also release a tremendous amount of heat, usually two to three times more heat than from ordinary combustible materials such as wood and paper.
Installing fire extinguishers in the terrace may encourage individuals to risk their lives by remaining or re-entering the terrace to put out a fire. By doing so they could quickly be overcome by the toxic smoke resulting in serious injury or death. The best thing an individual can do in the event of a fire in the parking structure is to exit immediately and dial 911 to activate emergency services. Do not try to put out a car fire with a fire extinguisher in an enclosed structure.
The Aggie Parking Terrace is fully protected with a fire sprinkler system and fire department connections which is proper fire safety equipment for this building. The sprinkler system was designed to hold a vehicle fire in check until the fire department arrives to extinguish the blaze. In most cases, it is simply not possible to extinguish a car fire with an extinguisher, and using an extinguisher to knock down a fire could delay the activation of the sprinkler head. Car fires are extremely dangerous even for firefighters.
Those who were near the terrace fire witnessed just how much smoke was being produced by the car fire. The structure was so filled with smoke that the firefighters could not see where they were going. It is very plausible that someone without safety equipment would not be able to find their way out of the building if they delayed their egress from the building in an attempt to put out the fire.
Wherever required by code, fire extinguishers have been provided in USU buildings. These extinguishers are accessible for people who feel that the fire is small enough to extinguish safely. They are also installed for the police officers and fire marshals who will be among the first people responding to a fire. The USU Fire Marshal’s Office provides fire extinguisher training free of charge to any student, faculty or staff. At any time there is a fire in a building, the safest thing for anyone to do is to get out of the building and activate the 911 system. It would help for those who are aware of the fire to prevent others from entering the building.
The editors got it right in “Our View” when they said, “You can’t put a price on the safety of students.”
The employees of the USU Department of Public Safety, Housing and Facilities care deeply about the safety of our students, faculty, staff and others. It is our number one priority.
Steve Bell is the fire marshall at USU. Questions or comments can be sent to him at steve.bell@usu.edu