NICOLE ALBERTSON
News Assistant
Fire season is here, and with it, a more complete explanation of the university’s decision last semester to end its on-campus fire department.
While this season is one of the driest in history and county officials are planning for the possibility of severe fires, university officials claim the decision to rely totally on the L.A. County Fire Department for campus safety is warranted.
Chief Administrative Officer Phil Phillips now confirms that in a full-scale investigation of the department, it was found to not be beneficial to Pepperdine students’ safety.
While the fire trainee program contained talented fire trainees, they were still not qualified to respond to most of the emergency calls made on campus, Phillips noted.
Each trainee going through the program obtained fire and emergency care experience. But the individuals were not licensed or certified in either field as they were still in the training process. Pepperdine reinforced that it is more important to have certified professionals responding to emergency calls than trainees.
Pepperdine will continue its fire safety with the protection of the local fire departments. The university has had a long-standing connection with the LAFD and continues to maintain the strong relationship.
Pepperdine’s main priority is to remain as a first response for the local stations, rather than a second because of the trainee program’s presence, noted Phillips.
The best thing for campus fire safety is to maintain the great relationship with L.A. County and remain a top priority. Pepperdine receives the best fire safety possible with the direct fire resources down the street from campus, said Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Gary Hanson.
Unfortunately, the fire program’s presence gave students and faculty a false sense of security when they saw fire trucks rumble through campus.
“Because they were so close to campus we felt safe knowing they were there,” said senior Chai Collins, after she received news of the programs departure.
The majority of the fire trainees, who went through the Pepperdine program, then joined the LAFD after their program completion, rather than staying to help with Pepperdine safety.
But as last reported in March of this year, the on-campus volunteer fire station was closed just months after a January fire swept Malibu across the street from Pepperdine. As students and Pepperdine residents grew concerned about the decision, the administration kept a tight lip on their reasoning.
Now, six months after the incident, the administration has disclosed the real reason behind the fire station closing and the new steps they are taking toward fire safety.
After the fire program was cut in February, a press release said the decision resulted from “a lengthy review of the University’s Public Safety Department.” It was concluded that “maintaining a small fire trainee program was not an efficient or effective use of University resources.”
Director of Public Relations and News Jerry Derloshon confirmed money was not an issue considered in the decision.
Since Pepperdine is relying on L.A. County for safety, the administration has moved the fire trainee funds to Public Safety to include more full-time employees that have cross training in fire and EMT education.
The new cross-trained individuals will be certified firefighters, trained in risk management and will have undergone such programs as the Wildland Fire training program.
“These people will meet the physical qualifications throughout the 40-hour course,” said Phillips. “In addition, I want to have our officers assist the L.A. County fire from a uniquely university perspective.”
So far 10 new officers have been hired or promoted, but the administration is in the process of screening 113 applicants and interviewing 49 of them.
“We want people who have a heart for our students and appreciate our university’s mission,” Phillips said. “We want them to act with Christian precepts and value Christian values, but they don’t have to be Christian.”
Administrators are looking for the new additions aiding in Pepperdine’s safety to have excellent judgment and an understanding of college campuses.
“These people must be well qualified for the job but also people who feel a calling to law enforcement [and] can act with humility,” Hanson said.
Potential officers will be projecting a new image of Public Safety. While each officer will still command student safety, the university is looking to soften the officer approach to students.
“It is more about a community policing concept,” Phillips said. “The officers will keep or students safe. They need to know how to take command of a situation but also understand the community.”
As Malibu has already had one bout with fires this year, Pepperdine is preparing itself for the onset of fire season. Like every year that has passed, Pepperdine has been working closely with its landscaping group to expand brush clearing around campus, giving the buildings a larger buffer of protection.
Fire-ready equipment has also been placed at Baxter Drive, home to many residential faculty members. This equipment includes pool pumps and fire retardant foam for the LAFD to use if a fire does threaten the campus.
Pepperdine was also visited by a fire inspector to discuss improvements in fire safety.
“We stay in close contact with the L.A. County Fire Department,” Phillips said. “We always take a lot of precautions for our fire safety.”
08-27-2007