Concerns arise about fire alarm malfunctions in Coronado Hall
By GAVIN MENDOZA, Senior Reporter
Coronado Hall’s fire alarms have malfunctioned a few times in the last year, disturbing students and creating a possibly dangerous situation, students say.
Since February 2021, fire alarms have sounded on occasion in the residence hall early in the morning even though there haven’t been any fires. Students say that, if they get too many false alarms, people could sleep through the alarms if they sound during a real emergency.
Matt Adair, the university’s housing director, said the university is working to fix the situation.
“We do not really know why they are going off, and because Northwestern’s systems are purchased through a third-party vendor, we are working with them,” Adair said.
D.A.L. Security Systems in Enid monitors the fire alarm systems. When alarms go off, the company notifies the Alva Fire Department. The company has been on campus to try to fix the issues, Adair said.
“Safety is our No. 1 priority, and more than anything on campus, I want everybody to be safe,” Adair said, adding that the potential danger of students avoiding alarms worries should not be taken lightly.
“It is something I am concerned about, and I think the best way to deter that from happening is to tell everybody that there are no false alarms, and when an alarm goes off, you exit the building,” Adair said.
“You would better be safe than sorry in situations like these.”
Chase Orrock, a senior from Concord, North Carolina, majoring in health and sports science, is a resident assistant in Coronado. He said the fire alarms have been problematic.
“This semester, the fire alarms have gone off probably four times and about twice last semester,” Orrock said. “Every time they have gone off has been early in the morning, around 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. … It has, at times, taken sleep away from me, and talking to other students, it has for them as well.”
Tate Schuermann, a freshman from Medford majoring in criminal justice, said he believes the false alarms can result in danger.
“Most people do not take them too seriously, I think, because it has been happening so late at night or early in the morning,” Schuermann said.
“It normally does not ruin sleep for me because we are not outside for too long, but it is not nice waking up.”
