Summit Fire Chief Brian Harnois wants local families packing for college to add one more item to the checklist: fire safety.
The department published a campus fire safety advisory on Monday, Aug. 17, timed to move-in weekend, with practical steps students can take before they unpack a single box.
"For many students, the last fire safety training they received was in grade school, so now is a critical time to review fire risks and prevention actions to stay safe away from home," Harnois said in the advisory.
The stakes are real. From 2020 to 2024, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 3,198 structure fires per year in dormitories, fraternities, sororities and similar housing, according to National Fire Protection Association data. Those fires caused an average of two deaths and 20 injuries annually.
Cooking is the dominant risk. Data from the Center for Campus Fire Safety shows roughly three out of four campus housing fires start in the kitchen, with unattended equipment the most common cause. Smoke alarms were missing or tampered with in 58 percent of fatal campus fires examined in a federal study covering 2000 to 2015, and fire sprinklers were absent in all 85 fatal incidents reviewed in that period.
What the department recommends
The advisory breaks into several categories:
Housing: Choose fully sprinklered buildings when possible. Make sure each bedroom, living room and every level has a working smoke alarm, ideally interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound. Test alarms monthly. Learn the building's evacuation plan. Off-campus renters should map two ways out of every room.
Carbon monoxide: Install detectors outside each sleeping area and on every level. The advisory notes many off-campus houses are older and were built before detectors were required.
Cooking and electrical: Check school rules before plugging in appliances. Never use an extension cord with a refrigerator. Avoid overloading outlets and use only surge protectors with internal overload protection. If a microwave catches fire, keep the door closed and unplug the unit.
Smoking: Use deep, wide ashtrays on a sturdy, non-flammable surface. After a party, check under cushions for cigarette butts. Upholstered furniture catches fire fast and burns fast.
Grills and fire pits: Check with the local fire department for restrictions before using a grill, fire pit or chiminea.
New chief, familiar mission
Harnois was sworn in as fire chief on July 7, 2026, after the retirement of Chief Eric Evers. A career firefighter since 2007, he previously served as the department's training officer and holds certifications as an EMT, fire instructor and fire investigator. He oversaw more than 150 emergency calls during severe storms in his first weeks on the job, according to a Patch report.
More fire safety information is available on the city's fire department page.
