New England College has always been aware of the dangers associated with fires in residence halls, classrooms, and administrative buildings. As a demonstration of our fire safety philosophy, the College recently upgraded fire safety measures on campus. Within the past several years, all student residence halls have been upgraded to state-of-the art intelligent fire alarm and sprinkler systems. All boiler rooms are monitored by carbon dioxide detectors.
Within the past two years, the College has sponsored fire safety awareness and survival training for Residence Life Assistants (RAs) and administrators in the Department of Residence Life. At the beginning of the fall semester, Residence Life staff participate in a one-day training session at the New Hampshire State Fire Academy in Concord, New Hampshire. The training, which is given by professional fire fighters, instructs Residence Life staff to efficiently and safely handle residence hall fire evacuations.
At the beginning of the academic year, all students will receive fire and evacuation training information from their Residential Life Staff in conjunction with the Department of Operations and Life Safety and Campus Safety.
Every year Residence Life RAs and administrators receive fire extinguisher training, as well as participate in fire evacuation drills mandated by the State of New Hampshire.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) requires two (2) new safety-related requirements for institutions that participate in federal student financial aid programs:
Fire Log: Institutions must keep a fire log that states the nature of the fire, date, time, and general location of each fire in on-campus student housing facilities. New England College complies with this rule by including all fire-related incidents in the daily crime and fire log. This information is available at the Campus Safety Building.
Annual Fire Safety Report: Institutions with on-campus student housing facilities must publish annually a fire safety report that provides information on campus fire safety practices and standards. This information is available in pamphlet form from the Campus Safety Building. Additionally, this report can be accessed on line by going to the US Department of Education website ope.ed.gov/security.
Fire Definitions
Fire
Any instance of open flame or other burning in a place not intended to contain burning or in an uncontrolled manner.
Fire-related Deaths
Number of persons who were fatalities because of a fire incident, including death resulting from a natural or accidental cause while involved in fire control, attempting a rescue, or persons escaping from the fire scene. Persons may include students, faculty, staff, visitors, firefighters, or any other individuals.
Fire-related Injuries
Number of persons receiving injuries from fire-related incident, including an injury from a natural or accidental cause who received medical treatment at a local medical facility. This includes first responders attempting to control the fire, attempting a rescue, or persons escaping from the fire scene. Persons may include students, faculty, staff, visitors, firefighters, or any other individuals.
Estimated U.S Dollar Loss Related to Fire Incidents
Estimated total U.S. dollar loss of both contents and structure or property destroyed because of a fire incident, not loss of business.
Buildings Equipped with Fire Alarms Systems and Smoke Detectors
Buildings that have functional fire alarm systems and smoke detectors installed. Please note: all residence halls are equipped with functional fire alarm system and smoke detectors. Boiler rooms are also monitored by carbon monoxide detectors.
Buildings Protected with Automatic Sprinkler System Throughout
Indicates an automatic sprinkler system protects all areas of a building.
Emergency Evacuation Drills (formerly known as Fire Drills)
The number of supervised scheduled drills or actual events at campus and non-campus residence halls. Various drills are conducted throughout the year to familiarize students, faculty and staff with emergency procedures and individual roles. One fire evacuation drill is conducted within the first two weeks of each semester with one additional drill in each semester.