Fire alarms frustrate Gray Court residents

Since the beginning of the school year, Gray Court residents have dealt with six fire alarms, but only two were scheduled drills.

Michael Bowles, the fire safety specialist for safety services, said the fire alarm systems in residence halls were reliable.

"We very rarely have false alarms," Bowles said. "That's not to say we don't have fire alarm activations. We do, but in almost every case there is an environmental change that caused the alarm."

Bowles said these environmental changes could include smoke from burned popcorn or steam from hot showers.

After the fire alarm activations, Bowles said he used the reports filed by the University Police Department, talked to people who were on site, reviewed reports to see past problems and worked with a fire alarm company that inspected the alarms.

When the problem is determined, it serves as an educational opportunity to remind residents in dorms how to handle appliances, such as microwaves, and what to do in case of a fire, Bowles said.

After the first few fire alarm activations in Gray Court, Bowles said the cause was determined to be steam from showers. Bowles said there was then immediate communication to Resident Life staff and to residents about the cause.

The ideal times for fire drills are when school starts and right after students return from winter break, but Gray Court fire alarms have been activated repeatedly in the weeks since school has started, he said.

Residents, including Shelly Holland, said they had had their study time, naptime and even shower time interrupted multiple times and had grown frustrated.

"Besides the typical eye roll, I now just assume someone left their door open while showering or burned mac and cheese," Holland said. "I really don't take them as seriously as I should-- sentiments that I feel everyone in my hall shares."

After seeing how sensitive the alarms have been, many are seeing the alarms more as an annoyance than as protection, Holland said. The actual alarm is so loud that the alarm itself is an effective evacuation technique, but there are residents who still ignore an alarm of that magnitude. They should have to face consequences, she said.

Bowles said the university was doing all that it could to reduce complacency and keep the number of alarm activations to a minimum.

"The university provides well maintained fire alarm systems, but it takes everyone working together," Bowles said. "The residents need to consider what and who may be impacted if the fire alarm system is accidently set off."

Contact reporter Lauren Shute at lauren.shute@richmond.edu