Columbia firefighters burn room for Safe Mizzou 2018

The University of Missouri has held events this week to educate students, faculty and staff on safety.

The events of Safe Mizzou 2018 included active threat training, a personal safety fair and a controlled burn event.

On Wednesday, Columbia firefighters conducted a simulated burning of a room to demonstrate the speed at which a fire can spread.

“To show how hot it can get, how smokey it can get, how dangerous it can get,” Columbia Fire Department Assistant Chief Fraizer said.

Fraizer said it’s fundamental to get out immediately.

“It doesn’t take long for things to get out of control.”

He said to use common sense: blow out candles, turn off the stove and use microwave safe food.

According to university’s 2017 Annual Fire Safety and Security Report, there has not been a fire in a university building since 2014. In that year, there were two fires at Hawthorn Hall, which were determined to be an act of arson, and another fire in Laws Hall which was also determined to be an act of arson. There was also a fire in Hudson Hall, which was determined to be unintentional.

Each residence hall at the university has two routine fire drills each year, according to the report. There are currently sprinkler systems in all of the university’s residence halls, and the university plans to have sprinkler systems in all of its facilities by 2020.