Gov. Dennis Daugaard has proclaimed September as “Campus Fire Safety Month” in South Dakota.
The designation highlights the fact that fatal campus-related housing fires can happen. With students now back at college, State Fire Marshal Paul Merriman says this is a good time to remind students to be prepared no matter where they live.
“Many college students have not received fire safety education since elementary school and they do not realize how quickly a fire can occur either in on-campus or off-campus housing,” says the Fire Marshal. “The issue of campus fire safety has become more of an important topic as more schools and communities understand the need to keep college-age students safe.”
Fire Marshal Merriman says fatal campus or off campus housing fires are similar to others found in homes. The fires could be started by any number of things such as heaters, people smoking, electrical malfunctions or food left too long cooking on the stove.
“All of these fires can be dangerous and deadly no matter where they start,” says the Fire Marshal. “This is an ongoing effort to educate the future generation of our state about the importance of fire safety behavior so these behaviors can help to ensure their safety during their college years. Fire Safety is a life skill.”
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is part of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
