As cold weather continues in Boulder, fire safety officials are urging University of Colorado at Boulder students to check for discarded smoking materials and to never leave burning candles unattended.
Already this winter, a CU-Boulder student narrowly escaped a house fire early New Year聮s Day that was believed to have been started by a discarded cigarette. Though there were no injuries, the fire caused $30,000 in damage and left the home uninhabitable.
"The three people sleeping in the house were able to escape the fire because their smoke alarms had batteries and were working," said Sherry Kenyon, safety coordinator for Boulder Fire Rescue. "Smoke alarms are the best and earliest warning of a fire. Students should check their alarms to make sure they work if they聮re needed."
Kenyon warned that cold temperatures, combined with the popularity of smoking and decorative candles in residences, could mean more emergency calls for the fire department.
"Smoking materials that have been discarded in trash or furniture are very common factors in student fires," Kenyon said. "It is a good idea to designate someone to check the house after a party to make sure the candles are blown out and smoking materials are extinguished. Two recent fires in off-campus student housing have involved cigarettes discarded outside that have caught the houses on fire."
The U.S. Fire Administration Web site, , is a recommended resource for more information on fire safety.