Spring Break
Officials say false fire alarms less frequent
Andy Blais
Issue date: 10/12/07 Section: News
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10/12/07 - Despite the perceived frequency of fire drills on the University of Rhode Island campus this semester, Major Stephen Baker of the URI Campus Police said that there have been two fire alarms less than there were at this time last year.
According to the campus polices log, 14 alarms went off this year. Even more importantly, Baker said that "very few of them are malicious pulls," meaning there were very few incidents where students were responsible for pulling alarms. This year, Baker said that there was one malicious pull and two possible malicious pulls in the dormitories.
There are several other reasons why fire alarms are set off that are unavoidable, according to Baker. They include burnt popcorn and other food, steam, and even smoke from outside drifting into the dorms.
Kevin Culley, the URI director of Safety and Risk Management, simply said, "You do get fire alarms from time to time, sometimes they are false alarms."
"Obviously, if there is a malicious pull, it is a crime," Baker said. The punishment, according to Baker, includes up to a year in jail, no more than $500 in fines and restitution.
Danielle Mailloux, a freshman chemistry student, said, "The fire alarms are way too sensitive. I understand why they are but if they are going to go off because of steam from a shower, that means they are too sensitive."
The Burnside resident said there was one night when she had to go outside twice. Mailloux said the fire alarm rang first at 1 a.m., and later rang after students had been let back into the dormitory. She also remembered it ringing a third time, but added that it quickly shut off.
"The fact that it had gone off three times is really annoying," Mailloux said.
Kingston Fire Department Chief Nate Barrington said that most of the calls this year were "fairly understandable" as to why the systems were tripped.
Barrington thinks that URI has become much better at reducing the number of malicious alarms. He continued, saying that fire extinguishers have been put in supervised areas and covers have been placed over alarms instead of glass cases.
According to the campus polices log, 14 alarms went off this year. Even more importantly, Baker said that "very few of them are malicious pulls," meaning there were very few incidents where students were responsible for pulling alarms. This year, Baker said that there was one malicious pull and two possible malicious pulls in the dormitories.
There are several other reasons why fire alarms are set off that are unavoidable, according to Baker. They include burnt popcorn and other food, steam, and even smoke from outside drifting into the dorms.
Kevin Culley, the URI director of Safety and Risk Management, simply said, "You do get fire alarms from time to time, sometimes they are false alarms."
"Obviously, if there is a malicious pull, it is a crime," Baker said. The punishment, according to Baker, includes up to a year in jail, no more than $500 in fines and restitution.
Danielle Mailloux, a freshman chemistry student, said, "The fire alarms are way too sensitive. I understand why they are but if they are going to go off because of steam from a shower, that means they are too sensitive."
The Burnside resident said there was one night when she had to go outside twice. Mailloux said the fire alarm rang first at 1 a.m., and later rang after students had been let back into the dormitory. She also remembered it ringing a third time, but added that it quickly shut off.
"The fact that it had gone off three times is really annoying," Mailloux said.
Kingston Fire Department Chief Nate Barrington said that most of the calls this year were "fairly understandable" as to why the systems were tripped.
Barrington thinks that URI has become much better at reducing the number of malicious alarms. He continued, saying that fire extinguishers have been put in supervised areas and covers have been placed over alarms instead of glass cases.
