Rep. Israel Pushes for Campus Fire Safety Safeguards Transparency in College Housing

Press Release

Today, Representative Steve Israel (D-NY) visited the Bethpage Fire Department to encourage high school seniors and their families to consider fire safety measures on campus as they apply for and choose colleges. Rep. Israel also discussed his legislation to require colleges to inform students if their campus-affiliated residence is equipped with fire sprinklers. The bill was a result of hearing what the Fitzsimons Family of Commack faced when they lost their daughter, Kerry Rose, in January 2012, in an off-campus fire at Marist College.

Rep. Israel said, "Kerry Rose's story is a tragic reminder to all of us that fire safety is an issue that we cannot take lightly. That's why I am here to remind high school seniors and their families that, as they begin to consider colleges next year, it is important that they also consider the fire safety measures in place in a school's housing facilities. I'm also urging that my legislation be passed on the federal level to make it easier for students and their families to find out if their campus-affiliated residences are equipped with fire sprinklers."

Commack Fire Department Fire Marshal Joe Digiose said, "The Commack Community continues to mourn the enormous hole left by the death of Kerry Rose. Every college student and parent should be reminded to check that there are automatic fire sprinklers in campus or off-campus housing. Fire safety must be taken into account as students and parents start to decide on colleges for next year."

Director of the FDNY's Fire Safety Education Unit, Lieutenant Anthony Mancuso, said, "One of the smartest things we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones from fires is to educate ourselves on fire safety. Automatic sprinklers are effective and save lives and should be in every college dormitory."

According to the National Fire Protection Association, from 2007 to 2011, fire departments across the country responded to an estimated annual average of 3,810 structure fires in dormitories, fraternity and sorority houses, and barracks. These fires caused an average of two civilian deaths per year, 30 civilian fire injuries and $9.4 million in direct property damage. When sprinklers were present in these properties, lives were saved and property damage was 65 percent lower than when no automatic extinguishing equipment was present.

The Kerry Rose Fire Sprinkler Notification Act, H.R. 4675, would require colleges and universities to include a description of the fire safety system wherever housing amenities are presented (including electronic materials), notify students during the housing facility selection process of the fire safety system in each facility and notify students on the day of move-in of the housing facility's fire safety system.

Additionally, the bill would require the Department of Education to aggregate data on the number and percentage of campus beds without fire sprinklers as reported by each institution's submission of an Annual Fire Safety Report. An Annual Fire Safety Report is already required in accordance with the Higher Education Act.

In July 2013, Gov. Cuomo signed into New York State law the Kerry Rose Fire Sprinkler Notification Act, which would require colleges in New York to provide written information on fire safety and sprinkler systems to students residing in campus housing. The bill was sponsored by State Assemblyman Michael DenDekker.

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