Facts and figures

Between January 2000 and May 15, 2006, the Center for Campus Fire Safety identified 88 fire fatalities in student housing, which includes students, parents and children. Since these fires are identified by scanning the wire services, and not all fires are identified as student-related, the actual number is probably higher.

According to the Center for Campus Fire Safety, the deadliest months are April and May, when 23 deaths have occurred, followed by August and September with a total of 19 fire deaths. In 2005, September was designated as Campus Fire Safety Month for the first time, and a number of campuses across the country held fire safety educational programs. Also, for the first time since January 2000, there were no fire deaths in August and September in 2005.

Location of fatal fires:

• Off-campus 78 percent
• On-campus (residence halls) 11 percent
• Fraternities and sororities 9 percent

Common threads in a number of fatal fires

• Lack of automatic fire sprinkler systems
• Missing or disabled smoke alarms
• Careless disposal of smoking materials
• Alcohol consumption

Fatal Fires: Current Academic Year (2005-2006)

• Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kan. - 2 killed in an off-campus fire
• North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C. - 2 killed in an off-campus fire
• University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan. - 1 killed in an off-campus fire
• University of Maryland, College Park, Md. - 1 killed in an off-campus fire
• Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. - 1 killed in an off-campus fire
• Southwestern Oregon Community College, Coos Bay, Ore. - 1 killed in a campus fire (non-housing)
• University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska - 2 killed in an off-campus fire

Geographic Distribution

From Jan. 1, 2000 to May 15, 2006, the fatalities identified by the Center occurred in the following states:

For more information, please visit the Center for Campus Fire Safety.