The “burn box” demonstration at North Haven Fire Department (NHFD) training grounds was part of its Dormitory and Apartment Safety Day. Held in partnership with Quinnipiac University, the event helped to drive home fire and life safety issues college students may commonly encounter in dormitories, apartments, and off-campus housing.

NHFD Deputy Fire Chief of Operations Scott Bisson provided live commentary as the laptop’s overheated lithium-ion battery quickly ignited the bedding. From that point, flames spread rapidly from the mattress to the walls and intensified as the fire consumed every fuel source, from furnishings to dorm decorations and clothes spread around the room. Within minutes, the intense heat of the blaze drove spectators back from their initial vantage points.

The September 30 awareness program also included hands-on NHFD educational stations covering safe charging of lithium-ion battery devices; electrical hazards such as overloaded power strips, faulty cords and outlets; smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and testing; emergency escape planning and a digital fire extinguisher tutorial.

Quinnipiac residential life, public safety, facilities and community engagement representatives supported and attended the event. A Quinnipiac student film crew captured the live fire demo and will produce a safety video to help strengthen Resident Advisor (RA) training.

Quinnipiac Chief of Public Safety Tony Reyes and Lieutenant of Training and Professional Standards John Jacobi met with NHFD Chief Paul Januszewski and Deputy Fire Chief of Administration Jeffrey Naples to coordinate programming impacting the university community. For the burn box demonstration, Quinnipiac donated dormitory living area and common area furnishings including a bed, tables, desks, a couch and chairs.

“Especially as students leave home for the first time and are living on their own, whether it’s in dorms or off campus, this is information that they need to know,” said Naples. “We’re especially focusing on lithium-ion battery charging safety. We want them to know that a laptop left charging underneath some pillows on a bed builds up heat, and how fast that fire fully develops.”

The demonstration also emphasized how the concept of “close before you doze” – keeping bedroom doors closed – can save lives.

“Making sure that door is closed between the sleeping quarters and any other living space gives a lot of occupants time to be notified that there’s a fire and to safely escape,” Naples said.

Jacobi said more opportunities are being developed between Quinnipiac and NHFD to extend this type of live fire demonstration and safety training to the greater university community. The next round of training and observation will involve public safety officers, residential life staff and RA’s.

“We are going to partner with residential life during our annual in-service training this coming year,” Jacobi said. “We’re going to bring as much of our department over here in one day, and all of the residential life staff, for initial RA training. We want experienced RA’s and new RA’s to see this first-hand and to get hands-on training, because RA’s are the ones that people are going to be looking to during an emergency in a dorm. Having their guidance and leadership to get people safely out the buildings is invaluable to the safety of the students.”

Craig Lennon, associate dean of student affairs, said this impactful collaborative effort enhances practices and training already in place to support the safety of the Quinnipiac community.

“It’s a tremendous partnership for us and an opportunity for our staff and students to learn a bit more about how to protect our community,” Lennon said. “We talk a lot about safety, but this live demonstration is something that can really be impactful because we see how it can affect our physical living environment and the physical safety of our more than 5,000 residents.”

Jacobi said additional Quinnipiac student groups and staff may be involved in the future.

“This is invaluable training,” Jacobi said. “We hope to build these types of relationships with Hamden Fire Department, as well.”

Naples served with the Town of Hamden Fire Department for 20 years, retiring as Hamden Fire Chief before joining NHFD in 2025. He said both departments value their relationship with Quinnipiac.

“When I was in Hamden, I had a great relationship with Quinnipiac University and Quinnipiac Public Safety over on the Mount Carmel Campus. Coming to North Haven, I’ve only built on the great relationship our fire chief has had with Quinnipiac,” Naples said.

With Quinnipiac operating two campuses in Hamden in one in North Haven, Karla Natale, associate vice president for community partnerships and university events, said the opportunity to be involved in efforts such as NHFD’s Dormitory and Apartment Safety Day is greatly valued.

“It’s so important to be connected to our first responders and to have a mutually beneficial partnership. We know that North Haven Fire Department is always going to be there for us and we want to be there for them as well,” said Natale.

Through the years, Quinnipiac’s voluntary contributions to the Town of North Haven have supported key municipal infrastructure projects, including a 2022 funding commitment which built the fire training facility, located at 366 Washington Avenue. In 2024, Quinnipiac provided funding to complete the renovation and expansion of NHFD’s Northeast Co. 4 fire station which fronts the site.

That relationship also extends to offering Quinnipiac’s North Haven Campus for various NHFD training exercises, said Sam Bzdyra, superintendent of building and grounds.

“It’s a good relationship,” Bzdyra said. “They’ve done high-rescue training using the parking garage, and in the winter, they’ll do ice-rescue training on the ponds. Now, we’re here to learn at their training facility, and we’re glad to help out by donating dorm furniture and other furnishings.”