Laurier students get a lesson in fire safety
Posted Sep 7, 2016 04:54:58 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Wilfrid Laurier University teamed up with Waterloo Fire Rescue to hold a demonstration for first year students, showing how quickly a dorm room can go up in flames.
The orientation week event drew around 2,000 students on Tuesday, who were able to witness a kitchen grease fire, and a dorm room reduced to ashes in under three minutes.
Public Education Officer with Waterloo Fire Rescue John Percy says this is a very important time to teach students, as it may not be high on their list of priorities.
“They’re at higher risk of fire. It’s their first time away from home. Maybe they don’t know how to cook, and maybe they’re not familiar with fire safety in general.”
Percy had several tips for students including avoiding using extension cords and overloading power bars, and make sure candles are secure and supervised.
“But first and foremost, if you cook in your room, unattended cooking fires is the leading cause of fires,” says Percy.
The demonstration showed students to never pour water on a stove grease fire, and to instead wear an oven mitt and place the lid quickly on the burning pot.
@Waterloo_Fire teaches students why you should NEVER pour water on a grease fire. Instead, cover pot with the lid pic.twitter.com/HDLkwLUbWp
— Lindsay Grisebach (@LindzGrisebach) September 6, 2016
Percy adds that students should get to know their dons and where to find them in case of emergencies, as they are all trained in the event of a fire.
“Just close the door, call 911, let your don’s (floor monitor) know there is a fire in their residence, and then they have got to get out.”
The entire dorm room was up in flames and put out in around two minutes. pic.twitter.com/ewpVzy89xN
— Lindsay Grisebach (@LindzGrisebach) September 6, 2016
