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| Photos by JESSICA MERRIFIELD / Scroll |
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| A fire that began in a trash can consumes a specially constructed dorm room in the Taylor Quad Friday, Oct. 15. |
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The fire started in an overflowing trash can. The small flame quickly turned into a blazing tower, catching the wall and ceiling on fire.
The fire then spread right, toward a chair and pile of clothing, and left, igniting a desk leg and shelf full of books. That was in the first two minutes.
Next, the fire crawled along the rest of the ceiling, finally setting the smoke alarm off.
After 30 seconds of pitiful beeping, the alarm melted and dropped to the floor. Black smoke billowed out into the air.
By this time, the blaze had made its way across the desk to the computer. The plastic sides sizzled for a few seconds, and then the monitor exploded with a pop.
After another minute or so, the temperature in the small room exceeded 1,300 degrees, causing the room to explode into flame, something known as a flash effect.
About 10 minutes after the fire started, fire fighters stepped in with hoses and quickly extinguished the fire.
Fifteen minutes later, all that was left was a blackened shell, skeletons of furniture and water-soaked ash.
“It just went so fast. That’s what blew my mind,” said Phil Savage, a senior from Denver, Colo.
This fire was not in an apartment, however. It occurred in a 4-x-8 foot “room” in the Taylor quad.
The small, three-sided room was constructed and burned the morning of Friday, Oct. 15 by the BYU-Idaho Safety Office as part of a national Fire Safety Week.
The room took four students about 30 hours to build, using materials from Home Depot, Deseret Industries and donations, said Tim Wilson, a senior from Cardston, Alberta.
The Safety Office took several precautions, including dousing the nearby trees with water before the mock fire and having members of the Rexburg Fire Department on hand.
Several students and community members were present for the blaze. “It was big. I hope it never happens to my house,” said Jennilee Goodin, a junior from Reserve, N. M.
“I think it’s a good idea to let people know how dangerous fire really is,” said firefighter Randy Davis.
Being smart about fire hazards can help prevent fires. That is the whole idea behind Fire Safety Week, said Kyle Williams, fire safety officer for BYU-I.
“More fires and fire deaths occur in off-campus rental housing than any other form of college housing.
“Most of these fires can be prevented if residents take a few minutes to make their apartment fire safe and then remain vigilant thereafter,” according to the pamphlet.
