The SMU Boulevard was on fire Tuesday evening during a mock dormitory fire. The University Park Fire Department visited the SMU campus to enforce fire safety using live demonstration.

Before the fire, students huddled around the two simulated dorm rooms, created specifically for the fire demonstration. The layouts of the two rooms were designed to mimic the actual dorms here on campus. Both of the rooms housed a bed, a desk and chair, as well as books, a trashcan and both were slightly messy.

The representative speaker for the fire department explained the whole process. During the first trial, the firefighters would act as though a candle fell into the trashcan to begin the fire.

Within a couple seconds, the fire alarm sounded and smoke arose out of the first dorm. Within minutes, the fire was spreading into other parts of the room and completely demolished the walls and furniture while black ash covered the area.

Tally DeVuono, a SMU marketing student, “was amazed at how quickly the fire began and completely overtook the whole room,” she said. “As a student living independently, it is a great idea to promote fire safety and potential ways to avoid it.”

During the second trial of the mock fire, there was a sprinkler system placed inside the room in order to demonstrate the different effects safety precautions can have on an area or person.

The second room was illustrated just as the first, the candle started the flames and it began to spread. Once the fire alarm began to sound, the sprinkler system kicked into action and was able to catch the fire in time, before it spread tremendously.

The speaker said that the sprinkler system was installed in all of the rooms on campus.

“It is comforting to know we are living in a safe environment.” Emma Birrell said, SMU Marketing student; relieved as she watched the flames disappear.

The firefighters, police officers and speaker discussed ways to prevent fires and how to act in case involved in one.

In all, the students were amazed at how little it takes to create a fire and were glad to have the opportunity to experience one first hand, while being told pointers and safety precautions along the way.