The Cookeville Fire Department conducts building pre-plans and specialized training to address the unique safety challenges at Tennessee Tech.
The state declared September Campus Fire Safety Month. Cookeville Fire Department Battalion Chief James Clouse said the department evaluates building entrances, exits, and nearby hydrants to determine the water flow required to extinguish a fire.
“The fact that Tech is becoming more of a walking campus does create some special and unique things for our response as far as apparatus placement,” Clouse said. “So in our pre-planning we look for things and try to help overcome that.”
Clouse said the department identifies potential hazards to both firefighters and the public during these assessments. Clouse said the department utilizes aerial devices, such as ladder and tower trucks, to reach high points on taller campus buildings. Training for these scenarios includes rope rescue, hazardous materials response, and building construction analysis.
Clouse said cooking fires remain a leading cause of emergencies for students living in off-campus apartments. He said residents should remain with their food while cooking and keep outdoor barbecues away from siding or other structures to prevent heat damage.
“Cooking fires are one of our leading cause of fires still,” Clouse said. “So that would be one of the bigger hazards is if you’re cooking stay with it, pay attention to what you’re cooking, don’t walk away or get distracted.”
Clouse said students should ensure they have operational smoke alarms on every floor, inside every bedroom, and in the hallway outside sleeping areas.
“If you don’t, you can contact your local fire department whether it be Cookeville, Putnam County, Baxter, or one of the other departments in the county,” Clouse said. “We can help with getting you some smoke alarms.”
Campus Fire Safety Month raises awareness about the threat of fires in both on- and off-campus housing.