In light of the tragic house fire on College Avenue Saturday (Aug. 18) that claimed the life of a West Virginia University student, University officials are urging students to take any and all safety precautions at their off-campus dwellings.

“Students need to think ahead of time about what to do in case of a fire,”said Julie Whiteman, coordinator of WVU s Off-Campus Housing office.”Saturdays fire was a terrible tragedy that hopefully wont ever happen again. And while the cause is still being investigated, its a sad reminder that we must all take extra care.”

Whiteman offered the following advice to students in off-campus housing (many of these tips could also apply to on-campus dwellings):

• Make sure all smoke detectors have batteries and are in good working order; test them regularly

• Know where your emergency exits are located and plan alternative evacuation routes in case of emergency

• Leave the premises immediately and call 911; do not try to extinguish the fire yourself

• Keep areas clean of trash, papers and other accelerants

• Do not use extension cords; for extra outlets, buy a surge protector

• Dont overload electrical outlets

• Replace cracked or frayed electrical cords

• Know which windows can be opened and how to open them in case of an emergency.

• Space heaters need spacekeep them at least 3 feet from anything combustible and never leave them unattended

• Keep halogen lights away from flammable drapes and low ceiling areas, and never leave them on while youre not home

“The bottom line is to be proactive,”Whiteman said.

Students who have safety concerns about their rental housing should contact their landlords and discuss the situation immediately, she added.

“Definitely try to work through your landlord first and foremost,”she urged.

If that doesnt work, she suggests calling the City of Morgantowns housing authority at 284-7401.