Blacksburg Fire Department To Conduct Safety Exercise At Slusher Hall

BLACKSBURG, Va., June 27, 2003 – The Blacksburg Volunteer Fire Department will be conducting a mock fire exercise Saturday morning between 8 a.m. and noon at Slusher Hall on the Virginia Tech campus.

"The purpose of the exercise is to give the fire department a chance to become familiar with the building and prepare how to respond more effectively in case of a real fire," said Zachary Adams, co-director of the office of environmental health and safety.

Slusher Hall, comprised of a three-story wing and a 12-story tower, is an all-female residence hall and is the tallest residential building on campus, making it an ideal structure for a practice drill.

"Slusher Hall is one of the few buildings where they would have to use the ladder truck," Adams said.

Adams said his office coordinates pre-fire planning for all campus buildings, including monthly tours of campus buildings so members of the fire department become familiar with how the buildings are laid out.

There will be approximately 20 rescue members participating in the exercise, including members of the Blacksburg Rescue Squad.

Written by Ada Hatzios, public relations assistant