Established in 1879, the Notre Dame Fire Department is the oldest University fire department in the nation and the only career fire department at a private educational institution. Today, the Notre Dame Fire Department has 16 full time firefighters who respond to over 2,000 incidents a year, administrative staff, technicians, and over 30 part-time firefighters. From working football gamedays, to 24 hour shifts, to providing fire safety education and more, the NDFD serves as not only an emergency response agency, but a key partner to the campus community.
In celebration of Campus Fire Safety Month, which is honored in September, we took a behind the scenes tour of the fire department and asked some of NDFD’s C-Shift members for fire safety tips that we can all follow to increase our own safety.
- If you’re going to be using the microwave, read the back of the food article that you are going to put in there. Make sure you’re doing it for the right times. Read the back of your food before you cook it. ~ Lieutenant Corey Cole
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No matter what you’re drinking, whether it is water or something else, just make sure you cover it up. ~ Kristen Moran, firefighter
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Every fire is a real fire. ~ Dwight Niles, firefighter and lead fire protection technician
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When you are walking at night, never walk alone. Always use the buddy system. ~ Nick Kovach, fire protection technician
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Don’t be complacent. If you hear a fire alarm, please evacuate for your own safety. You just never know if the fire is real. There’s a reason we have these alarms, and it’s for your safety. ~ Matthew Kovach, fire alarm technician
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My suggestion to everyone for safety is to be aware of your surroundings at all times. ~ Mary Weigle, senior administrative assistant
The Notre Dame Fire Department is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Stop by to meet the team, get a tour, or learn more about how they go above and beyond to serve our campus community. For more information on the fire department or additional safety tips, visit ndfd.nd.edu.