By Heart of Illinois ABC
NORMAL – Months after Sugar Creek Student Apartments caught fire, causing dozens of students to be displayed, a recent Illinois State University graduate is motivated to bring awareness to fire prevention measures.
Claire Wagner, recent ISU graduate, had a close call with a small fire in her own student apartments complex and realized there was no fire extinguisher available. After contacting the local fire department, she was told a fire extinguisher is not required in apartment buildings.
“I think that it’s very dangerous for it to be not a requirement, because although we could be buying our own extinguishers, that doesn’t mean that our neighbors will have one and you see how fast fires spread,” says Wagner.
Mick Humer, Normal Fire Chief confirms fire extinguishers are not required because the priority would be getting people away from the fire and calling 9-1-1.
Wagner agrees everyone should call for help but, still feels access to a fire extinguisher could be a big help.
“I think that it’s always a good ideal to call 9-1-1 as soon as a fire starts that’s the man priority. However, it could be easily helpful if you have a fire extinguisher if we put a little instruction manual next to it. Require tenants to watch a short instruction video on how to use a fire extinguisher,” said Wagner.
Anyone that would like to learn how to use a fire extinguisher can speak reach out to the local fire department to get information about the preventative training.
Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].
