Though it has been over two weeks since the early-morning brush fire at “O-Zone” by Father Benedict Court or “Uppers”, the flames continue to spark concerns over fire safety at the College, especially as the costs of near-constant fire calls begin to add up. While the fire itself was quickly contained by the Gostown Fire Department and did not cause significant disturbance to student life, the 4-alarm blaze-equivalent had a noteworthy impact on college staff and emergency services, underscoring the necessity of greater preparedness for more severe incidents.

According to Scott Dunn, Director of the Department of Safety and Security at Saint Anselm College, “the cost associated with extinguishing the fire is estimated to be more than $50,000,” a figure that does not account for the cost of staff required to manage the incident throughout the weekend. 

Many staff members were called in on their time off to assist in the response, further illustrating that, while student activities may not have been disrupted, there is a broader toll of these near-constant emergencies in the Anselmian community. 

The swift response of campus security and the Goffstown Fire Department minimized the fire’s potential spread but, according to Dunn, the frustration of the frequent fires could be avoided easily if community members followed basic fire safety protocols.

“Burnt popcorn and leaving food on the stove without turning the burner off are the most common fire alarms,” said Dunn, and “the Fire Department has also made us aware that students are [parked] in fire lanes when they respond to these calls.” 

These avoidable fires, worsened by hindrances to fighting them, strain the otherwise strong relationship between the College and local emergency services.

 “We are in constant communication with [emergency services],” Dunn explained, while continuing that, despite mounting frustration, “the Goffstown Fire Department has been very civil about the several fire alarms throughout campus.”

Luckily, the Department of Safety and Security is well prepared for incidents just like November 9th’s. “Student Affairs,” Dunn armed, “[regularly] conducts tabletop exercises with staff members… so we are prepared to respond to these critical incidents.”

 While the brush fire served as a brilliant demonstration of the efficacy of the College’s updated emergency response plan, it also raised questions about the potential spread of such incidents to dorms or other buildings on campus–scenarios which present much more uncertainty and risk.

 According to Dunn, “the financial and emotional toll would be substantial.” While Dunn emphasized that the College is prepared to handle such scenarios, he warned that the impact of a fire in a populated area would be significantly more severe. “The scale of the response would require not only campus and local resources,” he cautioned, “but potentially mutual aid from neighboring towns… the disruption to campus life could last for weeks or months.”

As Saint Anselm continues to refine its emergency response plans, Dunn emphasizes the administration’s renewed focus of fostering a culture of accountability and safety. 

In an email to the campus community, he urged everyone to refrain from lighting or leaving open flames, report hazards immediately, and stay vigilant to avoid future fires. Violations of these policies, he remarked, are not only prohibited by Saint Anselm College, but in some cases by law as well. 

State law strictly prohibits  kindling fires without a permit and, due to strong winds and high fire danger, “no permits have been issued by authorities.” 

An investigation as to the perpetrators of the November 9th fire is currently underway, but information has not yet been released to the public.

Moving forward, the College hopes to minimize disruptions and uphold the safety of its community. “It is just unfortunate [that] we are sometimes required to respond to incidents that could have been avoided,” Dunn said, but he maintained a sense of hope that, through strengthening a culture of fire safety, students and staff will be better equipped to prevent and respond to emergencies in the future.