The Fire Factor

One of the many benefits of being president of the Central Illinois Apartment Association is that I get invited to interesting events that relate to our business. On September 26th

2009, I was asked to attend the Fire Factor Academies at the University of Illinois. Clay Baier, inspector for the city of Urbana, and CIAA board member also attended as one of the organizers and founding members.

Through education and practical applications, the Fire Factory academy is designed to establish a relationship of mutual trust and respect among the University of Illinois, leaders of U of I housing community and the C-U Fire Departments.

Over the many years that I have lived in Champaign I have noticed the towers (sometimes emanating fire from their walls) just east of South Neil Street and North of Windsor Road. I often wondered what was going on in this area of the U of I but never ventured through the back streets off of South First Street to find out.

Upon arrival to the Fire Factor (formally known as the Illinois Fire Service Institute), I was directed to a room full of university students that were watching a video of bar fires that have occurred throughout the United States. The video was real and definitely shocking. The point of showing the student representatives real life video of actual fires was to impress upon them the importance of:

1. Realizing (before you go in) whether a bar or facility is over occupied

2. Looking for all exists once you enter a building

3. Thinking about which exit you will use if a fire breaks out (80% of people will use the same exit they came in – whether it is the closest and least used exit or not).

After an excellent lunch we were all treated to viewing two mocked up dorm rooms set afire. One room had a sprinkler system and the other did not. Can you guess which one faired better? Sprinkler systems not only save lives and property but allow property owners a discount on their insurance premiums.

In addition to watching videos the students participated in an actual search and rescue of a “dummy” located in a building full of smoke, hands on demonstrations of how to properly use a fire extinguisher and hauling a fire hose up three flights of stairs (fully loaded with fire fighter’s clothing and gear).

One of the best benefits of this exercise was witnessing the respect and admiration developed between the students and fire fighters. The students started the day thinking they would be wasting their time and become bored quickly. They ended their day with practical hands on experience that they can use to save their lives AND influence their fellow students.

I ended my day thinking of ways that we can influence our tenants to buy renter’s insurance, keep charged batteries in their smoke and CO detectors, report unsafe conditions to our maintenance personnel, not set off smoke alarms unnecessarily and be constantly aware of building exits and occupancy limits.