In the digital era, electronics are king and power is a necessity. As technology continues to develop and more and more outlets are being used, officials say fire safety has become even more of a necessity.
Given students’ heavy use of electronic devices, MSU Fire Marshal Denis Zietlow said he makes it a priority to keep MSU residence halls safe and fire-free.
Zietlow said a primary concern for him is that older residence halls are “not set up to handle all of the electronic stuff that people have in their rooms, “which are often powered by extension cords and power strips.”
Theatre freshman Jillian Craighead said she uses extension cords and power strips because there are not enough plugs around her room to plug everything in.
Music composition and theatre senior Mark Schenfisch said he needs such power adapters to connect lights, his piano, microwave and fridge to power.
“My bed is lofted, too, so I use an extension cord to get power to my phone at night,” Schenfisch said.
General guidelines to avoid fire hazards in the residence halls include using extension cords that are hardwired or plugged directly into an outlet.
Zietlow said he does not like to see people using cheap extension cords because they are not safe.
Andrew Smith, an occupational safety compliance officer of MSU’s Infrastructure Planning and Facilities said extension cords can also be a trip hazard. Power strips should also be kept away from water, and not hung or put underneath carpet, which can cause stress and overheating.
Power strips should have surge protectors and manual shut-offs. They should also never be connected to one another, Zietlow said.
Smith also said students should look for Underwriters Laboratory–approved power strips because they have been tested and are the safest.
Psychology sophomore Tyler Matteson said he does not think his single power strip is a safety hazard since it is relatively new.
While she can see why such items could be potential fire hazards, Craighead said, “I turn off my power strip when I’m not using it, and I unplug my extension cords when necessary.”
Zietlow said he does not get a lot of calls regarding power strips and extension cords, but often, small issues with power sources are handled by residence hall staff.
Other ways to avoid fires in rooms include not having candles and keeping hotplates or cooking appliances aside from a microwave, Zietlow said. Turning off and unplugging curling irons and hairdryers when they are not in use is another basic safety precaution.
In short, Zietlow said anything that produces heat should be unplugged after use.
Disabling or covering smoke detectors is also a huge safety risk, Zietlow said. Newer systems in the newly renovated residence halls report to MSU police if an issue with a detector is found.
“We’ve had a very good fire-safe year,” Zietlow said. “We hope to keep it that way.”
