On Saturday, February 24, a fire ravaged an apartment building on Aberdeen Street in Boston, MA. resulting in the deaths of two Boston University students, Rhiannon McCuish, 22, and Stephen Adelipour, 21. Steven Bourisquot, 22, was left severely injured while 30 other individuals were left without homes. The fire caused approximately $1,000,000 in damages.
According to the February 26 online edition of The Boston Herald, early investigation cited a candle as the cause for the blaze. The block on which the building was located suffered a power outage earlier that night and tenants used candles to light their apartments. The residence in which the fire started hosted a party earlier in the night.
The fire was estimated to have started around 5:15 A.M., and NStar employees who were working outside the building to restore power immediately alerted residents.
This tragedy has encouraged Plymouth State University to look at its own housing programs and the safety procedures associated with them.
“We are hoping to look at this and see what we can do to avoid that happening here,” said Frank Cocchiarella, Director of Residential Life and Dining Services at the Student Senate Meeting on February 25.
Plymouth already has several features to help keep students safe in the event of an emergency.
“All Residence Halls, and WMAC and Non-Trad apartments have automatic fire sprinklers, fire alarm systems and smoke detectors,” said Tammy Hill, EHS Coordinator. “The activation of the sprinkler or alarm system will sound the building alarm and notify the fire departments. These systems are inspected on a regular basis.”
Off-campus residences are equipped with safety features as well. “The apartments all have a fire extinguisher and hard-wired smoke detectors where required,” stated a representative from Stoppe Management Services, Inc. “The fire department and insurance company does periodic inspections of our buildings. Depending on the structure is would also have either a sprinkler system over the furnace area, or one hour fire rated walls and ceiling.”
Plans are also in place to help students if they find themselves the unfortunate victims of a partially or wholly damaged building.
“We first make sure that it is safe to return, usually given by the fire department or other parties with expertise,” said Cocchiarella in a written interview Tuesday. “If need be, we find a place to house people temporarily and if a long-term placement is necessary we work on making these accommodations.”
Off-campus, the plans are fairly similar. “First we make sure everyone is safe and unhurt,” said Stoppe’s representative. “If the damage was more extensive as to render an apartment or apartments unlivable, then we first work on locating emergency, temporary housing for anyone displaced. We would work with the University officials and various other landlords on this.”
To deflect the probability of fires or other damages happening in the residential Halls and apartments, the University and Landlords require their residents to sign agreements understanding the prohibited items.
According to Residential Life on the Plymouth website, www.plymouth.edu/reslife, “for safety reasons, open-coiled appliances (such as hot plates, toasters, toaster ovens and heating coils), candles and halogen lamps are prohibited.”
Appropriate punishments are given if a student is caught with any of these items. “We hold a judicial meeting and an appropriate sanction is given if held responsible,” said Cocchiarella.
“We have in our lease contract that candle burning or fires of any kind are prohibited,” said Stoppe’s representative. “If we do find lit candles in an apartment, we explain the lease to the residents and require them to put them out immediately. We also send a follow-up letter explaining that this is a violation of their lease agreement and they cannot have lit candles at any time. If someone were to have a second offense with lit candles, we would deliver eviction paperwork to the residents.”
Hill had further words to students to help prevent this kind of tragedy. “I cannot stress enough the importance of a timely response to a fire alarm. Everyone, whether in an on-campus housing or off, should react properly at the sound of a fire alarm. If it sounds, take it seriously and get out. Never assume that the alarm is false. Act as if your life depends on it, because some day, it might,” she said.