MSU Fire Safety & Delta Chi – Partners in Community Outreach

In an effort to expand upon education efforts and community outreach at Montclair State University, University Facilities (UF) Division of Fire Safety recently sought the help of the Delta Chi Fraternity on campus. On the night of November 30, 2020, UF Fire Safety hosted a webinar with the Delta Chi fraternity providing fire safety training on and off campus and safety awareness. The webinar was informally, yet expertly lead by Fire Safety Specialist, John Keane and John (Jack) Donahoe, Fire Safety Student Assistant and Delta Chi Montclair State Chapter member. Both active firefighters, Keane and Donahoe utilized this webinar to teach proper fire safety and fire prevention methods to the fraternity.

The webinar hosted guest speaker firefighter, Tom Wicklund of the Shrewsbury Fire Department, who provided first-hand experience of the importance of fire safety in Greek Life organizations both on and off campus. In 2014, Firefighter Wickland was the survivor of a fatal fire in Reading, PA, which claimed the life of Albright College student, Matthew Rein, and injured two other students living in this off-campus house.

 “He was my best friend, and that night will forever be etched in my mind. It was the reason I had joined the fire service in the first place, and to educate college students in any way I can in Matt’s memory is an honor for me to perform.”– Firefighter Tom Wicklund

The webinar, hosted by 35 members of the Delta Chi fraternity, was well-received and appreciated by each fraternity member. These members will seek to become ambassadors to the campus community in spreading the importance of Fire Safety to the rest of Greek Life as well as the student population on campus.

“I was overwhelmingly surprised on how well this webinar educating Delta Chi had went. The emails I received the following morning after the webinar of appreciation were constant, and I truly believe each member had left wiser about how important fire safety is both on and off campus, and I look forward to working with the membership in the future to help our mission of Fire Safety here at Montclair State only progress. Jack even surprised me with inviting Tom to share his story of survival during his college career, and it’s for certain left an impact on me as well, for it’s the stories such as his that have to be listened to in order to progress the quality of life for all.”– John Keane