Augustana College Students Prepare For Dorm Fires

by Jeff Rusack, Reporter
August 29, 2011 6:26 PM


It takes only minutes for a dorm room to be completely engulfed in flames. And fire fighters in Sioux Falls teach Augustana Students proper techniques to put out a fire.   

Rick Tupper, the head of public safety at Augustana said “all of residents assistances, peer advisors, and hall directors that live in our buildings, that our sort of our professional staff go through this training just to prepare them for any emergencies in there building.”

“I think it’s really important. Since we are in charge of our whole floor we need to be calm and collected. And in order to do that you have to be able to know what you're doing,” said student, Echo Bartos.

Students learn how to properly use a fire extinguisher.

Assistant fire marshal, Mike Top, said. “I did see in the fire extinguishing training, I know it sounds easy, it’s pull the pin, aim it, squeeze and sweep. And I saw two people forget to pull the pin.”

And just to show how much weight a firefighter wears, they put on suits and race one another.

Sonora Ruybal, a new peer advisor said. “It’s pretty warm, as of right now, but it's definitely heavy. And it’s more weight added on then I would ever imagine.”

Student leaders also get a chance to use the hoses, just not on raging fires.

“If something bad happened, your mind is going a million miles per hour. At least it puts them in that mindset that I’ve done this. I’ve prepared for this. And I’ve trained,” Said Tupper.

The fires may be controlled but staff at Augustana is now ready for the worst.