Flames and Facts 2026

Montclair State University’s Flames and Facts fire safety event brought together more than 150 students, faculty, staff, and community partners for an evening focused on fire prevention, education, and preparedness.

The event featured a variety of interactive demonstrations and opportunities for students to learn about the importance of fire safety in a fun and engaging environment. A special guest speaker from Seton Hall University shared the history and lessons learned from the tragic 2000 Seton Hall fire, emphasizing the importance of automatic fire sprinklers and how the fire led to changes in New Jersey fire safety requirements for college and university residence halls.

One of the evening’s most impactful demonstrations was presented by the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), which conducted two live mock dorm room fire demonstrations. One room was equipped with a fire sprinkler, while the other was not. The side-by-side demonstrations provided students with a powerful visual representation of how quickly a fire can grow and how sprinklers can control a fire, slow its spread, and provide occupants with additional time to escape safely. The demonstration also addressed common fire sprinkler myths and facts, helping students better understand how sprinkler systems operate and why they are an essential part of residential fire protection.

Following the sprinkler demonstrations, the Little Falls Fire Department extinguished the dorm room without sprinklers, showing how firefighters can safely attack a fire in a room without sprinkler protection. The demonstration reinforced the importance of having working fire protection systems, knowing when and how to use a fire extinguisher, and most importantly understanding that life safety and evacuation should always be the priority.

The event also provided students with the opportunity to meet and interact with members of the Montclair Fire Department and Clifton Fire Department. Firefighters spoke with students, answered questions, and helped strengthen the connection between the university community and local fire service organizations.

While education and fire safety were at the heart of Flames and Facts, the event also created a welcoming atmosphere for students to enjoy. The evening featured a DJ, free food, and s’mores around fire pits, allowing students to socialize while learning important lessons about fire prevention and emergency preparedness.

Overall, Flames and Facts was a successful evening that combined hands-on demonstrations, real world experiences, community partnerships, and student engagement. By bringing fire safety education directly to students in an interactive format, the event helped demonstrate that fire safety is not just about knowing the rules, it is about understanding why those rules exist and being prepared to act when seconds matter. We look forward to having this event again in the future.