Editor’s note, Oct. 21, 4:50 p.m.: This story has been updated throughout.

SMU Police Department co-hosted with the University Parks Police and University Parks Fire Department for their annual crime prevention and safety event “National Night Out”, Tuesday night at the flagpole.

Some students came to the event simply to enjoy the show.

“I just really enjoy watching them set that fire,” said Senior, Jennifer Foster.

The spectacle she was referring to was part of a demonstration done by the University Parks Fire Department. The firemen set up two big boxes on the boulevard, meant to portray dorm rooms like the ones SMU has on campus. One of the “dorm rooms” had a fire sprinkler, and the other did not. When the firemen set both rooms on fire, it was almost immediately evident that the “room” with the fire sprinkler suffered much less damage than the one that simply had a fire alarm.

“We are showing the difference between fire sprinklers and waiting for the fire department to come,” said Officer Scott Green.

Freshman Alex Hall said he decided to stay at the event after he asked the University Parks firemen what the boxes where for while they were setting up the demonstration on fire safety in SMU’s dormitories.

It was an effective way to show students that it is important to avoid tampering with the fire safety systems in the dorm room alone in the event of an emergency.

“I think I’ve been taught properly how to react,” Hall said.

Assistant Fire Marshal at University Park Fire Department Marty Corn wanted students to realize that it is a fire hazard to put any sort of decorations that might cover the smoke detectors or tamper with the sprinkler heads.

“If you block the sprinkler system in the dorm room. It’s not going to work,” She said.

The event also included food and beverages, a dunk tank, and a raffle. Many students took opportunity to express their feelings about parking at SMU by attempting to dunk Mark Rhodes, Director of Park N’ Pony, into the tank. The event was open to the community, and many families with young children as well as students and faculty attended.

For more information on fire safety visit:

https://www.smu.edu/StudentAffairs/Housing/eHandbook/FireSafety