Fires prompt safety drive, free batteries

by Becky Vevea

Friday, January 25, 2008 02:37

Free nine-volt batteries were distributed at Union South Thursday to remind students to check their smoke detectors.

The Madison Fire Department and the University of Wisconsin Offices of the Dean of Students aim to educate and promote fire safety among students.

“I’m going to go home and change mine right now,” UW sophomore Ashley Hedges said at the event, referring to the smoke detector in her home. “I don’t even know the last time it was changed.”

Students passing through the Union were given free nine-volt batteries and a quiz about fire safety. After completing the quiz, students were given coupons for a free slice of Ian’s Pizza. If they answered all questions correctly their names were entered in a drawing for a $100 gift card to the University Book Store.

“The quiz was harder than I thought it would be,” UW graduate student Janice Poehlman said.

The main goal of the giveaway was to insure fire safety and awareness among UW students, especially in the wake of the fires that occurred near campus last November at 123 N. Bedford St. and 505 N. Carroll, Assistant to the Dean of Students Alicia Jackson said.

UW sophomore Eric Wedul said he lives off campus only two blocks from where the fire on Bedford Street occurred.

“I know we have a few [detectors] that don’t work, because we don’t have batteries for them, but now I do,” Wedul said.

Lori Wirth, community education officer for the MFD, has been working with Dean of Students Lori Berquam since December to plan Fire Safety and Awareness week.

Wirth said the main goal is educating students about taking responsibility for their own safety.

Bob Luling, a code enforcement officer for the MFD, said according to Wisconsin Statutes and Madison General Ordinances, tenants are responsible for informing the landlord, in writing, if there is a broken smoke detector.

“All landlords are required to provide working smoke detectors, but students living away from home for the first time don’t always pay attention to those sorts of things,” Wirth said.

Both Berquam and Wirth were enthusiastic about the support from local businesses. A former Ian’s Pizza employee was a resident of the fire-stricken house on Bedford Street. When they contacted Ian’s, the restaurant jumped on board right away due to the connection with that resident, Wirth said.

On Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 from 5 to 7 p.m., Ian’s on State Street will randomly choose delivery orders for possible free pizza. The Madison Fire Department community coordinators will then go along on the deliveries and, with the tenant’s permission, they will inspect the smoke detectors.

If the smoke detector is working properly, the pizza will be free. If not, the tenants will receive a free battery to fix the broken detector.

UW seniors Joe Ferris and Bryan Fondrie had positive reactions to the battery giveaway and said the Ian’s delivery giveaway was a good deal.

Berquam, Wirth, Jackson and Luling will be giving away more free batteries to UW students from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Memorial Union today.