Columbia University Introduces Fire Guards to Campus

Columbia University Introduces Fire Guards to Campus

Following a string of false alarms, Columbia has stationed public safety officers in the East Campus residence hall.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • September 20, 2018

The safety of Columbia University's East Campus residence hall was called into question after a string of false fire alarms. Students in the building became numb to the alarms and began ignoring them rather than evacuating the building safely each time the alarms were triggered.

The university believes condensation in the wiring of the building, among other things, are the culprits behind the false alarms. In order to cut down on the alarms being triggered in a non-emergency, the New York university has elected to station public safety officers in the residence hall 24 hours a day to serve as "fire guards," according to an email that was sent to East Campus residents by Columbia Housing, Residential Life and Fire Safety.

The email announced that the Fire Guards would be on hand 24/7 to immediately investigate every smoke detector that goes off. If the guard "finds smoke or fire conditions" they will manually activate the alarm bell system to signal the evacuation of the building. If there is a false detection, the fire guards will forego the alarm bell system and leave the residence hall undisturbed.

The email stated that the Fire Guards were a temporary solution to the problem. Housing and Fire Safety officials have begun planning meetings with EC residents to discuss issues with the alarms and to find a more permanent solution.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • ASIS International Introduces ANSI-Approved School Security Standard

    ASIS International, a leading authority in security standards, is excited to announce the release of its American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-approved standard designed to provide a framework for developing, implementing, maintaining, and improving school security. The first comprehensive standard of its kind provides a critical benchmark for assessing and improving a school’s security posture regardless of size and funding. Read Now

  • High School Football Game Security

    The high school football season is scheduled to commence across the country in the coming weeks. The players and coaches have worked extremely hard preparing for a successful season. Students, parents, and the community are ready to support their teams. Read Now

  • Partner Alliance for Safer Schools Releases 2025 Update to Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools

    The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) has released the seventh edition of its Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools, which offer the most comprehensive information available on nationwide leading practices specifically for securing school facilities, from subject matter experts across the education, public safety and industry sectors. Read Now

  • Enhancing K-12 Campus Safety with Smart Sensors

    In today’s educational environment, school safety is a top priority—not just for administrators, but for parents, students, and entire communities. Gone are the days when locking doors and hiring a school resource officer were sufficient deterrents to threats. Read Now

Most   Popular