Bellingham Fire Department to be on campus periodically throughout the summer for safety checks

Firefighters and their Bellingham Fire Department trucks will be on campus periodically this summer to evaluate issues of building access at Western Washington University.

The city of Bellingham provides fire and medical emergency response services to the university, working with Western, as it does with other city partners, to pre-plan for such emergencies. This helps ensure that medical and fire emergencies are handled as effectively as possible, potentially saving lives and minimizing property losses.

During the times that the fire department will be on campus, crewmembers may perform ladder deployments to evaluate best ways to reach upper building areas around campus. They'll be parking their vehicles and deploying crews to minimize traffic disturbance and maintain building and area access for other vehicles and pedestrians.

Please be aware that these crews and trucks may be called to an actual emergency and may need to leave rapidly. While they are well trained professionals, the courtesy of teh WWU community in allowing them to cross walkways and drives is appropriate and appreciated.

If you have questions or concerns, please call Gayle Shipley at the Environmental Health and Safety office at (360) 650-6512 or email her directly or ehs@wwu.edu.