Fire safety main focus of EKU’s Minger mission

Local News

September 27, 2011

By Ronica Shannon Register News Writer The Richmond Register Tue Sep 27, 2011, 07:13 AM EDT

RICHMOND — To Gail Minger, Eastern Kentucky University seemed to be the perfect place to launch a nationwide community service project encouraging fire safety.

In 1998, Minger’s son Michael lost his life to an arson fire in a residence hall at Murray State University. Since then, it has been the mission of his mother and the Michael H. Minger Foundation to help campuses and communities enhance fire safety.

The project, “Help Save a Life, Get on the Truck,” pairs college students with their local fire departments to engage the campus and community in projects that will enhance safety.

EKU was chosen because of its acclaimed fire safety education program, Minger said.

The project is a way to “make a difference by working to minimize risks and save lives,” she said. “We felt this was the perfect place. We are pleased to join with EKU on this very important life-saving educational initiative.”

Minger, along with EKU President Doug Whitlock and other local officials, gathered Monday inside the Keen Johnson Building for a press conference and presentation by Corey Lewis of the Richmond Fire Department.

“The Minger Foundation is a work of love and passion by Ms. Gail Minger,” Whitlock said. “Out of every tragedy, I would like to hope that something positive can come. She has taken the tragedy of the loss of her son’s life as an opportunity to bring the subject of fire safety on college and university campuses to the forefront of public attention.”

The main goal behind the Michael H. Minger Foundation is simple: “Our mission is to improve campus fire safety,” Minger said. “We will work to raise fire safety awareness for students and for our neighbors who are at risk.”

As a part of the project, students will join with the local fire departments to help install smoke alarms to nearby structures and relay other safety messages, Lewis said.

“I’m excited about the relationship between EKU and the Minger Foundation, and being able to go out and show our public the message that our passion is fire safety.”

He showed a video presentation of a live, controlled dorm room burn in a structure without a sprinkler system and in a structure with a sprinkler system. The presentation was geared to show how quickly a fire can engulf a dorm room without the proper safety devices.

A proclamation declaring September at Campus Fire Safety Month was presented at the event and comments were made by Colmon Eldridge, an EKU graduate now serving as executive assistant to Gov. Steve Beshear.

“We are Colonels here, and Colonels lead,” he said. “When we work together, we can do incredible things. To the Minger family who has turned such a tragedy into a triumph, we thank you for your leadership.”

Richmond Mayor Jim Barnes also thanked Minger for her sacrifices.

“There’s sacrifices that are made to make our lives better, and your son’s tragedy is what is making the public aware as to what can happen to young men and women.”

Visit www.mingerfoundation.org for more information about the foundation, its mission and fire safety projects.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.

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