• Appliances
• Campus and dorm fires
• Campus and dorm fire safety tips
• Reports and statistics
• Candles
• Carbon monoxide
• Children and fire
• Cooking
• Electrical safety
• Emergency preparedness
• Escape planning
• Fire extinguishers
• Fireworks
• Gas, propane, other fuels
• Heating
• High-rise buildings
• Homeland Security
• Home fire sprinklers
• Intentional fires and arson
• Lightning
• Mine fires and explosions
• Natural disasters
• Nightclubs/assembly occupancies
• Nursing homes
• Older adults
• Other occupancies
• People with disabilities
• Seasonal safety
• Smoke alarms
• Smoking material-related fires
• Unintentional injuries
• Vehicle fires
• Wildland fires

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Campus and dorm fires

Look for fully sprinklered housing when choosing a dorm or off-campus housing.   Make sure your dormitory or apartment has smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside every sleeping area and on each level.   Learn your building's evacuation plan and practice all drills as if they were the real thing.   See all safety tips   AUDIO Judy Comoletti, NFPA Division Manager of Public Education, talks about fire safety on college campuses: Safety considerations for parents Safety tips for students Prevent a fire from starting

The number of reported fires in the dormitory occupancy group increased 3% from 3,200 in 1980 to 3,300 in 2005. In comparison, structure fires of all types declined 52% from 1980 to 2005.

Facts & figures

• In 2002-2005, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 3,300 structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and barracks. These fires caused an annual average of 7 civilian deaths, 46 civilian fire injuries, and $25 million in direct property damage. Note: Dormitories include school, college and university dormitories; fraternity and sorority houses; monasteries; bunk houses; barracks; and nurses’ quarters.
• Between 2002-2005, cooking equipment was involved in 72% of the reported dormitory fires; this includes confined or contained fires. Heating equipment was listed as the equipment involved in 2% of theses fires; an additional 2% were confined heating equipment fires.
• Structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and barracks are more common during the evening hours between 5-11 p.m., as well as on weekends.

Source:  NFPA's "U.S. Structure Fires in Dormitories, Fraternities, Sororities and Barracks," by Jennifer D. Flynn, August 2007

Also see: Fact sheet on dormitories, fraternities, sororities and barracks. (PDF, 39 KB)  

Related articles from NFPA Journal®

• The University of Utah, like many other campuses, has a fire prevention program that consists of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. By Mike Halligan. Jan/Feb 2005
• < /SPAN>Pennsylvania's first fire safety audits of universities and other state facilities look to NFPA codes and standards. By Stephen Barlas. Nov/Dec 2004
• Strong prospects for Campus Fire Safety Right to Know Act. By Stephen Barlas. Nov/Dec 2003
• Recent tragic fires at colleges and universities have led to a small rise in fire sprinkler systems for dormitories. By Shelly Reese. Nov/Dec 2003
• The fire problem in educational occupancies. By Chip Carson, P.E. Sep/Oct 2003
• A new program helps drive campus fire-safety growth at our nation's colleges and universities (PDF, 792 KB). By Ed Comeau. Nov/Dec 2002.
• Dormitory fire safety is a priority for parents, and NFPA is there to help. By Meri-K Appy. Jan/Feb 2002.

Other resources

• Campus Firewatch is an electronic newsletter focusing exclusively on campus fire safety.
• The Center for Campus Fire Safety provides a place for those interested in campus fire safety to share ideas and learn from their peers.
• When selecting a school, ask these questions when you are visiting campuses (courtesy of The Center for Campus Fire Safety).
• USFA campus and student fire safety information

Updated: 8/08