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2008 National Campus Fire Safety Month launched with immediate results
The fourth-annual 2008 National Campus Fire Safety Month campaign was launched on January 2 and, within days, governors from Pennsylvania, Maine, and North Carolina issued proclamations designating September as Campus Fire Safety Month in addition to similar resolutions being passed by both the U.S. House and Senate.
"We've been working to educate college students and their families about the dangers of fire on campus for years," Pennsylvania Governor Rendell said. "We must do more, however, because too many young men and women, on campuses all over America, are losing their lives. Students go to college planning to earn a diploma; not die in a fire. We need to do everything we can to make sure that they are enriched and prepared for becoming productive citizens in this global economy."
"The college years are an important time for education in so many areas, including fire safety, and this is the time to teach students how they can be responsible for their own safety and that of others, not only during the college years but beyond," added John Dean, Maine State Fire Marshal and president of the National Association of State Fire Marshals. "Campus Fire Safety Month provides an opportunity for schools and communities to reach out to students and parents alike and teach them what they need to know to save lives ? perhaps their own."
Letters signed by 18 parents who have lost children in campus-related fires were sent to all of the governors and mayors of the states, territories and the District of Columbia asking for them to support Campus Fire Safety Month. In 2007, 31 states issued proclamations and a number of schools and communities held fire safety education programs on their campuses, including the national launch at Kent State University (www.campusfiresafetymonth.org).
The 2008 National Campus Fire Safety Month campaign follows the most tragic year on record when 20 people lost their lives in campus-related fires in the 2006-2007 academic year. Already, in the first semester of this school year, 13 students have been killed in fires, including seven in the tragedy at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.
Updated information on the status of National Campus Fire Safety Month is available at Campus Firewatch (www.campus-firewatch.com and www.campusfiresafetymonth.org.
