Fire Safety Lessons: Seton Hall Survivors Speak to High School Seniors

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — October 16 —  Warren Hills Regional High School seniors learned about fire safety through the “ After the Fire” program. The Washington Township Fire Department in Warren County, New Jersey, sponsored the program for the second year in a row. 

The program included Alvaro Llanos and Shawn Simons, who survived the Boland Hall fire at Seton Hall University on January 19, 2000. When the fire started in their South Orange, New Jersey residence hall, the two of them were college freshmen. According to Seton Hall University, three students were killed and 58 people were hurt in the incident. 

Llanos and Simons recounted their experiences and talked about fire prevention and safety with the students. The presentation aimed to guide seniors in identifying fire hazards and preparing for emergencies as they transition into adulthood and college. 

The Boland Hall fire serves as a key case study highlighting the necessity of fire safety instruction in student living spaces. The “ After the Fire” program uses firsthand accounts from survivors to help young people understand fire risks and the importance of knowing how to respond.