The death of three students and the potentially life-threatening injuries to several more last week in a Seton Hall University dormitory fire underscore the critical importance of employing modern life safety measures in all student housing. The 48-year-old dormitory at Seton Hall in New Jersey, home to 640 students, was equipped with smoke alarms but not fire sprinklers. When the alarm went off, most students assumed it to be a false alarm and went back to sleep. The result was tragedy.
Like most dormitories in the Illinois University system, the one at Seton Hall did not have a sprinkler system because it was built before regulations required them. So-called “grandfather” clauses in many local ordinances prevent older buildings from being required to install sprinklers.
As a retired Chicago firefighter, I ask Gov. George Ryan and all Illinois college and university administrators to explore ways to improve fire safety on our campuses.
