The Journal

Issue date: 9/14/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Max Gersh Firemen Mike Janning (left) and Paul Meier (right) make up part of the team under Captain Gary Bainter's (center) command at Engine House No. 2 on Elm.

Faulty wiring and overly sensitive fire alarms were the cause of a high number of alarm soundings in the new East and West Halls, according to John Buck, assistant dean of students. The alarms went off numerous times in the first two weeks of school.

"The smoke detectors that we installed were really sensitive," Buck said. "If someone was spraying hairspray too close, it would set one off. There were also some wiring problems that we now have under control."

The problems with the new fire alarms are considered to be fairly normal, according to Gary Bainter, captain paramedic at Webster Groves Fire Department's House No. 2.

"New systems have issues that have to be addressed," Bainter said. "If you're doing construction, residual dust can collect in an alarm and make it overly sensitive or sometimes you just get really sensitive alarms. It usually takes about two or three weeks to work out those kinds of problems."

The number of false alarms has been reduced since the opening of the new residence halls this past summer, because of the new system and monitoring by Public Safety officials, according to both Buck and Bainter. When an alarm goes off, the signal goes through an outside company called ABF who then calls Webster's dispatchers.

"If ABF doesn't hear from us within a minute, they automatically call the fire department," said Dan Pesold, director of Public Safety. "We're not waiting 10 minutes to call the fire department. Our officers go right to the scene and immediately notify ABF if there is a fire."

If the alert is deemed to be a real problem, the fire department responds as if it is a first level alarm. A first-level alarm, reserved for commercial or high occupancy buildings, receives four pumper trucks, a ladder truck, an ambulance and fire chief along with the necessary crewmembers.

"Depending on where our officers are on campus, it can take some time for an officer to get to the scene," Pesold said. "Sometimes we are literally running across the campus to get to the area."

Currently Public Safety is

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