Mock Dorms Lit Ablaze To Educate SUNY Oswego Students

By Jose Hernandez

OSWEGO – SUNY Oswego’s Fire Marshal Ken Ayhens organized a kickoff for fire safety month along with volunteers, the Office of Fire Protection and Control, and city firefighters. Two mock dorm rooms were burned, one at 12:30 and the other 4:50. Students were taught to use fire extinguishers and put out fires, all on campus.

“We are burning two mock dorm rooms to show students how a fire reacts, how quick it is, how dangerous it can be,” said Ayhens. Ayhens wanted to give the student body a great first-hand experience while learning about fire safety. The mock dorm rooms were lit ablaze, with firefighters on hand to put out the fires after letting the structure burn for a bit, to the cheers from students.

Tips from Ayhens regarding fire safety included staying by the stove while cooking, always have an extinguisher in your house, have smoke and CO detectors, and check their batteries. Ayhens recommend people always sleep with their bedroom door closed, as fires with open doors can be more dangerous and destroy your possessions. There were two mock dorms burnt to show this difference.

The volunteer fire department had applications for students at the event. SVAC (Student Association Volunteer Ambulance Corporation) was on site with applications as well. Cards were handed out with the Fire Safety Guardians Instagram page. Ayhens hopes to generate interest to have Fire Safety Guardians become a club on campus to promote fire safety on campus.

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