Edie Clark, Director of Communications, International Association of Fire Chiefs
(703) 896-4827, eclark@iafc.org

Media Advisory 

WHAT:  Lawmakers, Students and Advocates Launch 2008 National Campus Fire Safety Month

WHEN:  Tuesday, September 9, 2008,   11:00 a.m. - Noon

WHERE:     HC-6 in the Capitol (location to be reconfirmed by 9-8-08)

WHO:    Confirmed and invited speakers (in order of presentation)

Ed Comeau, publisher, Campus Firewatch

Bonnie Woodruff, parent who lost her son in campus-related fire (confirmed)

Kaaren Mann and a student from the University of South Carolina -- parent and survivor of the Ocean Isle Beach fire where seven students were killed (confirmed)

Students from Seton Hall University, who experienced a fatal dorm fire (invited)

Senator Frank Lautenberg (confirmed)

Congressman Bill Pascrell (confirmed)

Congressman Joe Wilson (confirmed)

Congressman Price (confirmed)

Congressman Clyburn (confirmed)

 

Background / About the Event

A national coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to reducing the loss of life at schools across the nation will join law- and policy-makers on Capitol Hill to launch the 2008 National Campus Fire Safety Month.  The goal is to raise awareness of students, parents, and administrators about the importance of campus fire safety and the steps they can take to prevent the needless loss of life.

The national coalition includes the Congressional Fire Service Institute, the Ohio Fire Safety Coalition, Campus Firewatch, the Chapel Hill (N.C.) Fire Department, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of South Carolina, the Columbia (SC) Fire Department, parents of fire victims, and survivors of campus-related fires.  Twenty-six states (to date) have also joined the fight by declaring September Campus Fire Safety Month.  

Now in its fourth year, National Campus Fire Safety Month is also extending its reach internationally.  Advocates in the U.S. will be joined by the Cheshire (UK) Fire Brigade, who will include fire safety as a key element of their annual campus safety campaign. 

This year’s message will continue to push successful efforts to gain improved on-campus improvements in fire safety, as well as drive focus to the continuing problems with off-campus housing where two-thirds of the national student population lives and where 80 percent of student fatalities occur. Life-long learning will also be captured with lessons in fire safety that can be transferred beyond campus, regardless if it is to a parent’s home, first apartments or vacation.  

Those participating in National Campus Fire Safety Month activities will have a new tool in their educational arsenal -- the new campus fire prevention website igot2kno.org, co-sponsored by the Peoples Burn Foundation of Indiana and Campus Firewatch.

The event comes on the heels of the recent passage and signing of The Higher Education Opportunity Act, which contains provisions from the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act introduced by Congressman Bill Pascrell (NJ-8) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ).  The provisions aim to address concerns relating to recent fires in college dormitories and off-campus student housing by requiring schools to report fire safety information to the Department of Education and making this information publicly available to students and parents.

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: If you cannot attend but would like to receive a press packet, please send an email to Edie Clark at IAFC: eclark@iafc.org.