The HUB lawn will be filled with smoke today as part of a project to increase student awareness of fire safety from the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and the Centre Region Code Administration.

Beginning at 12:30 p.m., the two organizations will demonstrate how to properly use a fire extinguisher and tour a mock room filled with theatrical smoke to create the effect of a real fire.

EHS Fire Prevention and Protection Program Manager Steve Triebold said Penn State has always been proactive with fire prevention. "The fire safety event is a good opportunity for students to get some information because fire knows no boundaries and can occur at any time," Triebold said.

EHS is responsible for the development and execution of environmental and occupational health and safety programs throughout Penn State's multi-campus system.

This is the fourth year the fire safety event has been held on campus, but it is the first year EHS has worked with the Centre Region Code Administration.

In the past, the event was focused on dorm safety only, but Office of Physical Plant spokesman Paul Ruskin said this year the program will put more emphasis on prevention in apartments and fraternity houses in order to reach more students.

Ruskin said if students know what to do in the event of an emergency, they might be able to save lives.

"I think students will think that it's a fun event," Ruskin said. "It has a carnival ride ambiance about a serious subject because it enables students to run through rooms filled with smoke and have the opportunity to operate a fire extinguisher and put out a fire."

The campus fire safety event will also emphasize preventing common hazards, small-scale controlled burns and a tour of a burned-out room.

Ruskin said by having fire safety awareness, people can prevent painful burns, hospital care and bad things from happening. "If you know what to do in an emergency, you can avoid some of the worst consequences," he said.

Triebold said that as a member of the community, it's important for him to raise fire safety awareness among students. "With this program, students can be prepared and knowledgeable about facing fires," Triebold said.

Information booths will be set up on the east side of the HUB lawn, near the gazebo.

"Students need to prepare themselves and this hands-on experience will help do that," Ruskin said.