With the weather starting to get colder, unwillingly and sometimes unexpectedly standing around outside for a few minutes for a fire drill isn’t exactly the ideal way every MSU dorm-resident wants to spend part of their Tuesday night.
Luckily they don’t have to do that every Tuesday, just once every month. But, for some students, fire drills once a month may even be too much.
“Maybe not every month,” undecided freshman Connor Smith said. “Probably like a three times a semester deal or something.”
Unfortunately for Smith and other students on campus who share a similar opinion, it’s not up to MSU. In accordance with the state of Michigan’s fire safety regulations, the residence halls have to conduct a minimum of eight fire drills in between the months of September and April every school year. Mandatory supervised fire drills are also conducted annually in all academic buildings in May.
“They are required by law, and are also a practical way to ensure that residents know how to get out of their residence hall in the event of an emergency,” Joe Petroff MSU’s Residential and Hospitality Services health and safety coordinator said. “All drills are announced in advance to allow for the safety of those involved.”
When the fire alarm sounds off in the residence halls indicating a fire drill, some students may be inclined to turn off their lights, lock their doors, and wait for the blaring noise of the fire alarm to subside its’ rattle throughout the residence hall. Petroff however, has warned against this action some students choose to partake in.
“State law requires that all individuals evacuate immediately when a fire alarm sounds,” he said. “Students failing to vacate during a drill are subject to disciplinary action.”
The result of a fire happening on campus is fairly slim, but can potentially happen. According to the MSU Police Department’s fire log that documents all fire-related incidents occurring on campus, in the past 60 days there have been five incidents. Only one of those cases has occurred in the residence halls — a fire that happened in Owen Hall on Oct. 27.
Still, even with the low chances of a fire happening, some students believe that monthly fire drills are necessary for keeping them safe. Should a fire happen in a residence hall, they believe it is important they’re prepared for the situation, if it occurs.
“If there’s actually a fire, we don’t want there to be mass chaos,” business freshman Spencer Welsh said.
“Fire drills are important to ensure that residents know how to get out of their residence hall quickly in the event of an emergency,” Petroff said. “RHS is committed to the safety and security of residents,” he said. “This includes providing opportunities to learn and practice steps to take during emergencies.”
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
