Whether real or a hoax, sadly this isn't the first time students have used a fire extinguisher as an IED (improvised explosive device).
Taking a common, "friendly" item, such as a fire extinguisher, and turning it into a dangerous weapon is becoming more and more prevalent. No one suspects a safety device would be used for anything other than safety; so it creates a great way to hide something very dangerous in plain site.
When fire alarms go off in your hotel just before 4:00 AM you have to figure it isn't good news.
In the case of the Hotel Sterling in Monroe, MI it was an intruder who used an non-monitored fire extinguisher to set the smoke alarms off and get people out of their rooms. The fire department also responded -- potentially keeping them from other more pressing emergencies.
Preventing disruption, vandalism and damage are just three of the many benefits of having electronically monitored fire extinguishers.
The poor college students didn't know what they were in for when they returned from break.Thieves broke in and they weren't happy with just stealing -- they had to cause damage too. In one case they sprayed the contents of an extinguisher making it "look like it had snowed."
Fire extinguishers are important life safety devices. If they are electronically monitored they can act as a deterrent against vandalism. It wouldn't have brought the kids stuff back, but they might have had less to clean up.
School districts across the country are facing huge unanticipated expenses as a result of damage from vandalism, much of which is caused with fire extinguishers. We can't lock up extinguishers because they are the first line of defense against a fire and prevent so many fires from spreading and causing severe damage.
So said the principal who looked at a room in his school that had been vandalized with a fire extinguisher. School was disrupted, students were displaced and everyone had a sense of loss.
Fire extinguishers are often used by vandals. But many schools and universities have found a deterrent -- electronically monitored fire extinguishers. These extinguishers send an alarm as soon as one is removed from its cradle or box alerting authorities to a possible fire or in the case of this story vandalism.
An apartment complex manager told police she wanted several teenage suspects that allegedly damaged a laundry room criminally prosecuted, according to a police report.
On Wednesday morning the manager discovered the damage, which included a table and a fire extinguisher case. The laundry room also had been sprayed with the fire extinguisher. The total damage was estimated at $450, according to the report.
Police are investigating the manager’s claims.
The principal is right -- this is very disappointing and there is no need to do vandalism. Sadly, it happens to fire extinguishers -- a LOT. More unfortunate is the expense the damage can cause and worse the threat to life safety.
Fire extinguisher vandalism can be diminished or even fully prevented with electronic monitoring such as with en-Gauge. en-Gauge can help avoid unnecessary expenses and more importantly reduces risk and helps maintain life safety.
An apartment complex manager told police she wanted several teenage suspects that allegedly damaged a laundry room criminally prosecuted, according to a police report.
On Wednesday morning the manager discovered the damage, which included a table and a fire extinguisher case. The laundry room also had been sprayed with the fire extinguisher. The total damage was estimated at $450, according to the report.
Police are investigating the manager’s claims.
