UPD teaches fire safety in Savannah

Bullex virtual fire equipment allows training with less cost and clean-up

Senior News Reporter

Published: Thursday, September 9, 2010

Updated: Thursday, September 9, 2010 02:09

Kristin Powell

Officer Tiffany Land (left) and Officer Erica Coreno show SCAD students that the virtual fire will not go out unless the extinguisher is pointed at the base of the fire.

University Police Department Officers Erica Coreno and Tiffany Land demonstrated the Bullex Digital Safety equipment for Savannah College of Art and Design students on Wednesday, Sept. 1.

About 36 resident assistants and directors gathered for the first of three fire safety classes for the dormitory leaders. SCAD's Environmental Health and Safety Manager Helen Morgan said as many as 90 students received training that day, which included a fire extinguisher course presented by firefighters from Savannah's Station Three.

After learning about fire extinguishers and watching a 16-minute video, students got the opportunity to put out a virtual fire with a laser extinguisher. After the first two students put out the fire quickly by pointing the extinguisher at the base of the fire and sweeping the "spray," Coreno demonstrated how the fire would not go out if the extinguisher was only pointed at the top or middle of the fire.

The class at SCAD is just one example of how UPD is using the new technology to reach out to the Savannah community. The Bullex system allows people to learn how to put out fires without the cost and environmental damage that comes with using chemical extinguishers and diesel fuels.

AASU Community Assistants received fire extinguisher training Aug. 25 at the Compass Point Clubhouse, said UPD Lt. Joseph Peny.

UPD has the only Bullex system in the state, and Savannah organizations are reaping the benefits of having a system in the area.

Representatives from Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools saw Bullex in action on Aug. 23, and Peny said there was a large turnout at the second annual National Night Out Against Crime in Garden City Aug. 3, where UPD also demonstrated the equipment.

The Bullex system does not let the trainee neglect any aspect of firefighting – the fourth person at the SCAD training who attempted to put out the virtual fire was unable to, because, the laser extinguisher must be recharged after a full minute of use, just like a regular extinguisher.

The UPD had a cooking safety class and fire extinguisher training at Windward Commons scheduled for Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.

Recommended: Articles that may interest you

Facebook Comments
Site Comments

Be the first to comment on this article! Log in to Comment

You must be logged in to comment on an article. Not already a member? Register now

Log In

Campus crime blotter

Sodexo employees arrested, banned from campus

University Police Department Officer Michael Tyler met with a student Jan. 19 at 6:47 p.m. in the Pirate's Pantry after she noticed her United Bank debit card was missing. The student believed she lost the card in University Hall. However, through her online checking account, she discovered the card was used twice in the Pirate's Pantry that day at 3:05 p.m. and 5:35 p.m.

"The card was used improperly," said Police Chief Wayne Willcox. "That's financial transaction card fraud."

The first transaction was for Playtex tampons and a 0.2 oz bottle of Clear Eyes, totaling $5.54, and the second consisted of Nacho cheese-flavored Doritos and TGIF's spinach artichoke dip, totaling $4.79. The Pirate's Pantry staff returned the card, which had been left by the unknown offender at the counter, to the student. The manager on duty informed Tyler that a Sodexo employee ran the debit.

"Through investigation, we were able to determine that there were two employees that had some culpability and both of them got charged," Willcox said.

Austin Andrews and Jessica Moyer were arrested, banned from campus and taken to the county jail.

Cyberbullying, drugs, theft on campus

University Police officer Meagan Zike returned to police headquarters Dec. 1 in response to a report of a stolen bicycle. The student secured his mountain bike with a combination lock to a bike rack in front of the Student Union around 11:20 a.m. that morning. When he returned from classes at approximately 3 p.m., he discovered that his bike was missing.

"The problem with the cheap combination locks is that they're kind of made of a pot metal," Police Chief Wayne Willcox said. "Pot metal is where they kind of cast it — they take the metal and put it into a mold, and it sort of assumes a shape. The problem with casting is they can be very weak and also very cheap. If you really want to lock up your bike, you should use a U-lock."

Dispatch sent Officer Kenneth Louk to the Compass Point Clubhouse Dec. 3 after a student reported that her laundry was stolen from the dryer around 11 p.m. The student lost various Housing T-shirts, jeans, a hoodie and several other articles of clothing.

"We see this from time to time. This is an open campus," Willcox said. "This isn't somebody taking a T-shirt they wanted. This is somebody who just wanted to take a bunch of clothing. We have had issues with people coming on campus, and sometimes they're just looking for opportunities if the doors are open."