Dorm Fire Survivors To Discuss Life ‘After the Fire’ Following Mock Dorm Room Burn

Ever think about how fast a fire spreads — how it can turn on a dime from something small into a deadly inferno?

The SUNY Office of Emergency Management wants to show you Wednesday, Sept. 30, when the City Fire Department and state Office of Fire Prevention and Control conduct a live mock dorm room burn in the parking lot at Myers Fine Arts Building beginning at 6 p.m.

“The demonstration will show just how quickly fire and smoke can spread and why having a plan, knowing your exits and acting quickly can make a difference,” said Michael Caraballo, director of emergency management at the university.

While the controlled burn is a demonstration, Shawn Simons and Alvaro Llanos have lived through the real thing.

Simons and Llanos were college freshmen at Seton Hall University in New Jersey in 2000, when a deadly arson fire was set in their residence hall. They made a harrowing escape, but both suffered severe burns and faced a long road to recovery. In total, three people died and 58 were injured in the fire.

‘After the Fire’

The documentary, “After the Fire,” based on the Pulitzer Prize story and NY Times bestseller, tells their story, from the fire and its aftermath to their life-affirming future traveling across the country to talk about fire safety and prevention.

The film will be shown immediately after the demonstration in the Yokum 200, where Simons and Llanos will take questions from the audience.

Caraballo said the evening “is more than a fire-safety presentation.”

“You’ll see how quickly a dorm room fire can become dangerous—and then hear from two people who lived through the consequences,” he said.

‘Survival, Perseverance’

Caraballo said that Simons’ and Llanos’ message “is about survival, perseverance, and making sure students have the knowledge to prevent a tragedy and know what to do if a fire occurs.”

The event is co-sponsored by the Office of Emergency Management, College Auxiliary Services and the Plattsburgh Alumni Association, with support from Environmental Health and Safety, University Police, Housing and Community Living, Maintenance and Operations, and the Nursing Department.

For more information, contact Caraballo at 518-564-4950 or email [email protected].

— By Associate Director of Communications Gerianne Downs with Staff File Photos