For Immediate Release: March 1, 2001
For additional information, contact State Fire Marshal Donald P. Bliss or
Deputy State Fire Marshal J. William Degnan, 603-271-3294

Dormitory Fire Investigation Continues

Investigators from the New London Police Department and the NH State Fire
Marshal's Office continue to investigate the cause of last Tuesday's fire at
Austin Hall on the campus of Colby-Sawyer College.  The fire was contained
to the closet area of a student room on the ground floor of the three-story
brick residence hall.  Investigators are continuing to interview building
residents to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the start of this
fire.

According to New London Fire Chief Peter Stanley, the fire was controlled by
the quick activation of the fire sprinkler system.  According to Chief
Stanley, "this is an outstanding example of how sprinkler systems save lives
and property and why they are so important in college dormitories."  Chief
Stanley also pointed out that students evacuated the building quickly when
the fire was discovered.  State Fire Marshal Donald P. Bliss praised college
officials for ensuring that Colby-Sawyer's residence halls are protected
with sprinklers and state-of-the-art smoke detection systems.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, between 1993 and
1997, an estimated average of 1,600 structure fires occurred each year in
school, college and university dormitories and fraternity and sorority
housing.  These fires result in $8.9 million in direct property damage per
year.  In January, 2000, a fire in a non-sprinklered dormitory at Seton Hall
University in New Jersey killed three undergraduate students.

Media Note: Further information concerning campus fire safety and college
fire incidents can be obtained at the following web sites:

www.campus-firewatch.com

www.firemarshals.org

www.nfpa.org


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Ed Comeau
writer-tech.com
PO Box 1046
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