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State Senator Bill Beagle
September is
Campus Fire Safety Awareness Month
September marks the beginning of a new school year, the start of
football season and cooler weather, but more importantly, it’s Campus
Fire Safety Month. Last month I introduced Senate Bill 359 which
addresses the very real need for improved fire safety measures in
off-campus and rental homes.
Nearly two years ago on January 1, 2013, two families in our community
endured a horrific tragedy. Ellen Garner, graduate of Tippecanoe
High School, and Chad Kohls, graduate of Centerville High School, were
trapped in a third story attic bedroom when a fire started on the
second floor of a University of Cincinnati off-campus house. The
only safe exit from the room was an internal staircase, which quickly
became engulfed in smoke. The 36-foot jump from the third story
window that was blocked by an A/C unit onto the cement pavement was not
a viable escape route. Ellen and Chad were trapped and decided to
try to escape through the smoke-filled stairwell. Ellen and Chad
passed out from smoke inhalation before the fire department could
rescue them, and tragically, the two later passed away at a nearby
hospital.
After subsequent conversations about fire safety with fire prevention
experts, rental property owners, and parents, like Ellen's and Chad's,
I discovered that according to the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, egress and escape problems account for one-third of fire
fatalities. The need for legislation to protect our students and
others who rent homes with a third-floor bedroom is all too apparent.
As a solution to this problem, Senate Bill 359 requires a separate
means of egress for all dwelling areas above the second story of a
residential rental property, like the one that Ellen and Chad were
trapped inside. An egress ladder, a one-time $250 cost, is an
inexpensive safety measure that could save lives in the event of a fire.
It is my hope that Senate Bill 359 will honor Ellen and Chad and work
to encourage greater fire safety awareness that could save lives.
One basic fire safety tip is to always have two ways out. When a
fire breaks out, you have moments to make a decision on how you will
escape. Every second matters and ensuring you have an escape plan
is critical. I encourage you to make that plan now. Once you have a
plan, practice your home fire drill with your family or roommates at
least twice a year.
More tips on fire safety and information on Senate Bill 359 are
available at:
www.ohiosenate.gov/Assets/Media/FireSafetyFactsandTips.pdf. Please feel
free to contact my office with any questions about Senat Bill 359 or
other issues that are important to you. I can be reached at (614)
466-4247 or Beagle@OhioSenate.gov.
Senator Bill Beagle serves the people of Ohio’s 5th Senate District,
which includes Miami and Preble Counties as well as portions of
Montgomery and Darke Counties. He presides as the Chairman of the
Senate Committee on Workforce & Economic Development. Learn more at
www.OhioSenate.gov/Beagle.
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