Every year college and university students experience a growing number of fire-related emergencies, according to statistics from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There are several causes for these fires; however, most are due to a general lack of knowledge about fire safety and prevention. On Wednesday, April 23, nearly 90 students representing Greek Life sororities and fraternities at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will participate in a fire safety training program. The event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house located at 200 Sunset Terrace.

The program will include remarks from Annette Chism, director of environmental health and safety at Rensselaer; and Greg Comparetta, fire safety prevention specialist with the New York State Office of Fire and Prevention Control.

Prior to the start of a series of interactive sessions, participating students will witness the live burn of a mock residence room as a way to see how quickly a fire can spread. 

“We have held similar campus fire safety training programs for Residence Life,” Chism said. “The controlled live burn demonstration, which creates a great deal of heat and black smoke, is one way for us to show our students that it is very important to have a basic understanding of fire safety and prevention best practices. Fire safety encompasses the diligent act of individuals in assuming responsibility for their actions. At Rensselaer, we incorporate a holistic approach to safety through hands-on educational events, written communication, and fire drills, and the Rensselaer Environmental Health and Safety department is always available for consultation and technical advice.”

The fire safety day training program is offered to members of Greek Life through a partnership with the Student Life and Administration divisions, including the Physical Plant, Environmental and Site Services, Parking and Transportation, and the Department of Public Safety; along with support from the Rensselaer Department of Environmental Health and Safety, New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and the city of Troy Fire Department.