Living On-Campus

DU dormitories and apartments meet all requirements set forth by Denver Fire Code and National Fire Protection Association guidelines. Left alone, they are safe and at low risk for catching fire. What you do in your room or apartment or in common spaces of the building can make a big difference. Most dorm fires start in students' rooms or common cooking areas. In apartments, the kitchen is usually to blame. Among the common causes of fires in rooms are open flames, overloaded electrical equipment and smoking. You can help prevent fires in your dorm and stay safe by using common sense and following our guidelines below.

• Open Flames
  • Open flames in residence halls are strictly prohibited by University of Denver policy and Denver Fire Code. The following are a few examples of open flames that are not allowed:
    • Candles
    • Smoking implements (cigarettes, hookahs, lighters, matches, etc.)
    • Gas cooking devices (propane grills, camp stoves, etc.)
    • Sterno
• Cooking
  • Most fires in the United States begin in the kitchen as a result of cooking. Please protect yourself by following these guidelines:
    • Cook only in designated kitchen areas.
    • Do not use stoves or cookware that are messy, dirty or excessively greasy until they are properly cleaned.
    • When using electric cooking appliances (microwaves, kettles, toasters, etc.), do not overload the circuit.
    • NEVER leave food cooking unattended.
    • Before starting, be sure that a fire extinguisher suitable for electrical and grease fires is nearby.
    • Be sure to turn off all appliances when finished and before leaving the kitchen area.
    • If a fire starts, contain it by closing the door of the oven or microwave or putting the lid on the pan. Pull the fire alarm. Use a fire extinguisher if you know how and have one suitable for the type of fire. If your firefighting efforts fail, evacuate immediately.
• Fire Inspections
  • As part of the ongoing fire prevention initiatives in the City of Denver, our office works with University departments and the Denver Fire Department to perform annual fire inspections in all buildings on campus. Firefighters from the local fire station or inspectors from the Fire Prevention and Hazardous Materials Division will visit each building accompanied by Campus Safety and other University personnel at least once per year to ensure compliance with Denver Fire Code and good life safety practices. Any deficiencies found during these inspections will be remedied by Facilities, Housing or Campus Safety personnel by order of the Denver Fire Department.
  • Fire alarms in residence halls are inspected annually to ensure proper functioning under normal conditions. These inspections are performed by Campus Safety Alarm Technicians or by private contractors through agreements with DCS.