Canton Fire and Rescue and St. Lawrence University Safety and Security, in conjunction with New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Fire Prevention and Control, demonstrated to new and returning students the rapid progression of fire in a small mock dorm room. NYSOFPC Fire Protection Specialist Christopher Taylor was on hand to speak with students about knowing two ways out of their dorm room and to take all alarm activations seriously by evacuating the building in a timely manner. After the fire was lit, FPS Taylor noted the time it took for the room to become "fully involved" in just under three minutes. The students were able to feel the intense heat and see thick black smoke generated by common materials found in dorm rooms. FPS Taylor noted that the ceiling temperatures were in excess of 800 degrees, however closer to the floor temperatures were more tenable reaching approximately 300 degrees. FPS Taylor said, "Bottom line is, if you hear the alarm make your way to the outside of the building". FPS Taylor reminded students that the members of Canton Fire and Rescue are volunteers, with an average response time of six minutes, to put things into prospective. Members were available after the demonstration to speak with students about what they saw and how they can get involved with the department.

Canton Fire and Rescue would like to thank St. Lawrence University, St. Lawrence University Facilities and Operations for building the mock dorm, St. Lawrence University Safety and Security, and Fire Protection Specialist Christopher Taylor for making the demonstration possible.