In today's update...
Fraternity Fire
Dormitory Fire
Fatal off-campus house fire
Legislation in Pennsylvania
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The following accounts have been taken
from press reports and, unless otherwise
indicated, have not been independently verified.
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Fraternity Fire
January 12, 2001
Penn State
State College, PA
The following information was provided by Tim Knisely, Centre Region Code
Administration
This morning at approx. 0115 hrs, a fire was reported at the Tau Phi Delta
Fraternity. The fire was extinguished by occupants using a dry chemical
fire extinguisher. Damage was contained to one bedroom, with smoke damage
throughout the floor.
Cause was an unattended candle on a dresser. One occupant was hospitalized
for smoke inhalation.
The structure is a 3 story building of ordinary construction. There is a
fire alarm and automatic fire detection system and single station smoke
detectors in every bedroom. There were no sprinklers.
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Dormitory Fire
January 19, 2001
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA
A dormitory room was damaged in a late afternoon fire. The fire was
contained to the room of origin, but residents of the floor were relocated
to another dormitory.
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Off-Campus Fatal House Fire
January 19, 2001
University of Georgia Law School
Athens, GA
A fire in an off-campus house killed a 24 year old woman. Authorities have
determined that she was murdered, and are treating the incident as arson.
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Legislation being introduced in Pennsylvania
On Tuesday, January 23, State Representative Michael McGeehan will be
re-introducing legislation calling for the installation of sprinklers in
dormitories, fraternities and sororities in colleges and universities across
the state. This legislation is being introduced on the first day of the
legislative session. Representative McGeehan introduced a similar bill in
the 2000 legislative session that passed the House by a vote of 190 to 1,
but died in committee in the Senate.
A rally in support of the bill is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. in the Capitol
building. Representative McGeehan outlined his plan in an interview with
Campus Firewatch that will appear in an upcoming issue.
On Tuesday, January 24, a hearing will be held where a report commissioned
by the state government will be released. This report will analyze a number
of fire risks across the state, including dormitories. This report was
commissioned following the introduction of Representative McGeehan's bill in
2000.
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Ed Comeau
writer-tech.com, llc
P.O. Box 1046
Belchertown, MA 01007 USA
1-413-323-6002 (tel)
1-413-323-5295 (fax)
mailto:[log in to unmask] (email)
http://www.writer-tech.com (web site)
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Publisher of Campus Firewatch
Your fire safety newsletter
http://www.campus-firewatch.com
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