No, College Hall was not on fire.
The crowd of firefighters and Penn Public Safety officials on College Green yesterday were assembled to perform several demonstrations as part of Campus Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness Month.
Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush and Lloyd Ayers, Philadelphia's fire commissioner, both spoke on the importance of fire prevention and emergency preparation awareness.
Afterward, the Fire Department's Decontamination Unit provided materials and simulations about responding to incidents involving hazardous materials.
The firefighters also handed out flyers in English and Spanish about local shelters that serve as resources for evacuated residents, as well as first-aid kits and materials for preventing burns.
Because the event was held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., students were generally only able to stop by the displays briefly in between classes.
"Things do happen, especially on college campuses, that leave kids unsafe," said firefighter Thomas Sroka. "I just wish more people could find time to stop by and learn how to protect themselves.
