Fire safety a hot topic trying to keep college students safe

St. Clair College wants students to be aware of fire safety practices.

Fire safety is becoming a topic of discussion, as Windsor citizens prepare for the holiday season with lights, trees and festive dinners. Windsor Fire has tips online to combat fire hazards and hopes home owners and students have strategic fire safety plans as well.

According to the National Protection Fire Agency, they estimate that roughly 3,780 dorm fires occurred in 2011.

Alyxis Watson, the residence life coordinator at St. Clair College said there are strategic plans in place to ensure the residents safety.

“We have different protocols depending on what’s happening. If you have burnt something in your suite, we ask that you turn off everything to stop it from actually catching fire,” said Watson. “If one alarm goes off and then we evacuate and they go over to the Sportsplex so we can account for everyone in the building.”

Watson said fire drills occur at St. Clair’s residence twice a year, depending on the number of students who are currently residing there.

“We currently have 416 beds so we can hold up to more than 400 students but this semester we have 411 students,” Watson said.

When it comes to fires there are causes that can be avoided by simply using common knowledge.

“If you have a candle keep it in an open area. Do not have it lit on a pile of paper or text books,” said Alex Badder, maintenance worker at St. Clair’s residence.

There are two words Badder emphasized when it comes to a fire emergency: Get Out.

“Get out of the building,” said Badder. “Don’t just hide in your room thinking it’s a drill.”