RA Academy

The Resident Advisor (RA) Fire Academy is held each August at the University of Colorado Boulder.  The program is run by Boulder Fire-Rescue and is design the help teach student staff about fire safety and lead effectively during emergencies.  Included in this training is: fire extinguisher techniques and practice; smoke tower evacuation through non-toxic theatrical smoke to teach the importance of evacuating immediately, scavenger hunt activity through the burn building to demonstrate the importance of clear and accurate “pass-on” messages, and group classroom scenarios on what to do while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive.  Kim Scott, Boulder’s Fire Safety Education Coordinator, organizes this event and can be contacted at ScottK@bouldercolorado.gov

Leadership Fire Academy

The Boulder Fire Department hosts the annual Leadership Fire Academy the second week of September at the University of Colorado Boulder.  The Leadership Academy trains student leaders from sororities, fraternities, student government and other influential student organizations in hopes of giving them life-saving information to share with their peers.  These students learn the importance of evacuation strategies, fire behavior in structures, how to properly use a fire extinguisher, and familiarity with search and rescue techniques used by firefighters.  During the academy, students are assigned to work in a “fire crew” that is placed in situations that require teamwork and cooperation in order to overcome simulated fire emergencies.

The crews will rotate through various activities including:

  • A five-story evacuation simulation
  • A hose station requiring them to connect a hose to a hydrant
  • Pull hose from a truck and charge a water line
  • Fire extinguisher use
  • A search and rescue station where students will retrieve a rescue mannequin from a building wearing full firefighting gear.

This program is a joint venture of Boulder Fire Rescue Safety Education and University of Colorado Boulder Office of Student Affairs.  It represents an ongoing collaboration between City and University leaders on important safety issues.  Kim Scott, Boulder’s Fire Safety Education Coordinator, organizes this event and can be contacted at SottK@bouldercolorado.gov.

Community Living Agreement Workshop (CLAW)

At the beginning of the fall semester, fire safety information, and information regarding common fire hazards/safety violations are addressed with residents.  Each Resident Advisor (RA) will address fire safety as part of their Community Living Agreement Workshop (CLAW).  Similar information relating to the hazards of fires in residence halls is repeated to residents during the academic year.  This may be relayed to residents via newsletters, fliers, or by special memoranda to residents coordinated through the Associate Director.