Fire department addresses dumpster fire and safety at CMU
A dumpster fire takes place on Oct. 5 near Fabiano Hall. Photo courtesy of G. Camp
A dumpster was caught on fire from unknown causes near Fabiano Hall just before midnight Oct. 5. Fire personnel and CMU campus police arrived on the scene within minutes of the fire being called before any injuries or serious damage happened.
The fire was dealt with quickly by first responders. Fire Lieutenant Brad Doepker mentioned that in other serious cases, dumpster fires can cause damage to buildings and cars nearby.
This dumpster fire was deemed accidental, but many fires can start if people are not cautious and aware of potential hazards. Many items people throw away have flammable chemicals. It is important to know how to prevent and what action to take in the emergency of a fire.
“October’s fire department month theme is lithium-ion batteries," Doepker said. "A lot of people should be cautious and know how to throw them away properly. … There are lots of lithium-ion battery fires in the world today.”
Doepker said that before throwing away lithium-ion batteries, people should put them in a cup of water for at least five days or make sure they’re fully out.
Students should be aware and cautious of what they are throwing away. Lithium-ion batteries are found in many electronics that people use. Doepker said vapes are a common cause of dumpster fires because they are a disposable item that contains lithium-ion batteries.
Some steps to take when there is a fire are calling 911 right away, activating the fire alarm, evacuating the building immediately to a safe space and not reentering until it has been deemed safe, Doepker said.
Students can act in case of a fire, whether to prevent its spread or simply to call for help.
“If there is a fire extinguisher and people do feel comfortable using it, I would encourage them to put it out,” Doepker said. “One thing I would caution them on is that if they feel uncomfortable, feel it’s too hot or too smokey, just leave the area and report the fire to let us handle it.”
If students are not aware of how to use a fire extinguisher, it is good to know the acronym PASS, Doepker said:
- Pull
- Aim
- Squeeze
- Sweep
This refers to pulling the pin, aiming at the base of the fire, squeezing the nozzle and sweeping the nozzle at the front edge of the fire. There are also diagrams on the side of all fire extinguishers for reference.
Students should be aware of fire safety in their buildings, Doepker advised. When walking to class it is worth making note of where fire extinguishers, alarms and exits are in case of emergencies.
