CORVALLIS, Ore. - The Corvallis Fire Department will burn two mock residence hall rooms set up in a trailer on the Oregon State University campus this Monday, Sept. 13, as part of a fire safety education program coordinated by the department and OSU.

Attending will be members of the residential education staff with University Housing and Dining Services, which oversees the 3,900 students who live in campus housing at OSU.

The event will begin at 4 p.m. on the east side of McNary Hall, located at 11th and Jefferson Streets.

"There will be two mock residence hall rooms set up; one with a sprinkler and one without," said Joseph Evans, operations manager for University Housing and Dining Services. "The goal is to demonstrate how quickly fire can spread in a typical campus residence hall."

Since a major campus fire in January of 2000 at Seton Hall University in New Jersey claimed three lives and injured dozens more, college campus officials nationwide have placed increased emphasis on fire safety programs. At OSU, University Housing and Dining staff members work with the Corvallis Fire Department to train residence hall advisers and others annually about fire prevention and education for its residents.

"This is one of many education programs we've set up to ensure the safety of our students," Evans said.

Source: 

Joe Evans, 541-737-7797

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