Off
Campus Living
Resources
Important Links for Off Campus Renters
Campus Firewatch - the only electronic newsletter focusing exclusively on campus fire safety. Each issue is filled with valuable information on campus fire safety, both on- and off-campus.
US Fire Administration - As an entity of the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, the mission of the USFA is to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies, through leadership, advocacy, coordination and support. We serve the Nation independently, in coordination with other Federal agencies, and in partnership with fire protection and emergency service communities. With a commitment to excellence, we provide public education, training, technology, and data initiatives.
Topical Fire Report Series - Residential Building Electrical Fires: These short topical reports are designed to explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as depicted through data collected in US Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting System. This issue covers recent examples of fire incidents based on the following findings:
- Annually, an estimated 28,300 residential building electrical fires cause 360 deaths, 1,000 injuries, and $995 million in direct loss.
- Fifteen percent of residential building electrical fires start in bedrooms.
- Nearly half (47%) of the residential building electrical fires where equipment was involve were caused by the building’s wiring.
- Twenty-two percent of residential building electrical fires occur during December and January.
Establishing a Relationship Between Alcohol and Casualties of Fire: This report by the US Fire Administration discusses how alcohol intoxication may increase the risk of initiating a fire by impairing ne’s judgment and coordination. An intoxicated individual who is smoking may also succumb to the depressant effects of alcohol, fall asleep and drop a lit cigarette on upholstery or clothing. Intoxication also acutely diminishes one’s ability to detect a fire. Under the sedative effects of alcohol, an alcohol-impaired person may fail to notice the smell of smoke, or fail to hear a smoke alarm. Escape from a fire can be hampered by the loss of motor coordination and mental clarity caused by alcohol, even when warning signs are heeded. Furthermore, burns are more physiologically damaging in the presence of alcohol.
