2008 Woodie Awards
Emergency plans save lives
Practicing emergency plans help to reduce fear level if a fire breaks out
Jessica Bernhardt
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Features
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Imagine this. You're in your last year of college and a starter for the football team. You go to bed one night and never wake up.
This was the fatal reality for two students, Lloyd Bradshaw and Brandon Harris, who died April 14, 1996 in Winfield.
They lived in a house off campus with three other occupants who lived. An electric cooking appliance was left turned on, which sparked an early morning fire. There were no working smoke alarms in the residence.
Another unfortunate instance where a student lost his life to a fire was two weeks ago. A Cowley County student was the victim of a fatal fire in the apartment building he lived in.
A fire broke out early in the morning and officials determined the cause to be improper disposal of smoking paraphernalia. It is reported that three of the four apartments were occupied and all occupants, other than the victim, were able to get out safely.
After the fire broke out, Eli Hilderbrand, a freshman who was originally from Oklahoma, got out but thought someone was still in the building. He went back in. Hilderbrand died believing he was doing the right thing.
Both of these tragedies could have been easily prevented. There are several ways to prevent fires. There are ways to prepare if a fire breaks out.
There are easy ways to reduce the risk of fire in dorms. Alan Stoll, Winfield Fire Department lieutenant, said to start with the basics.
He said not to overload plug-ins or run extension cords under rugs. He also said space heaters are very dangerous. Stoll said it is very important to turn off curling irons and straighteners. However, in his past 18 years with the fire department, he has not seen a fire caused by them.
One very common cause for fires is leaving candles lit and unattended. Stoll said that when buying candles, be sure to look at what the containers are made of and how long to leave the candle lit. "Generally thin, cheap glass will bust," said Stoll.
This was the fatal reality for two students, Lloyd Bradshaw and Brandon Harris, who died April 14, 1996 in Winfield.
They lived in a house off campus with three other occupants who lived. An electric cooking appliance was left turned on, which sparked an early morning fire. There were no working smoke alarms in the residence.
Another unfortunate instance where a student lost his life to a fire was two weeks ago. A Cowley County student was the victim of a fatal fire in the apartment building he lived in.
A fire broke out early in the morning and officials determined the cause to be improper disposal of smoking paraphernalia. It is reported that three of the four apartments were occupied and all occupants, other than the victim, were able to get out safely.
After the fire broke out, Eli Hilderbrand, a freshman who was originally from Oklahoma, got out but thought someone was still in the building. He went back in. Hilderbrand died believing he was doing the right thing.
Both of these tragedies could have been easily prevented. There are several ways to prevent fires. There are ways to prepare if a fire breaks out.
There are easy ways to reduce the risk of fire in dorms. Alan Stoll, Winfield Fire Department lieutenant, said to start with the basics.
He said not to overload plug-ins or run extension cords under rugs. He also said space heaters are very dangerous. Stoll said it is very important to turn off curling irons and straighteners. However, in his past 18 years with the fire department, he has not seen a fire caused by them.
One very common cause for fires is leaving candles lit and unattended. Stoll said that when buying candles, be sure to look at what the containers are made of and how long to leave the candle lit. "Generally thin, cheap glass will bust," said Stoll.
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