A bill in the Massachusetts State Legislature spearheaded by a Harvard alum would require all students enrolled in the stateâs schools and colleges â including Harvard â to complete fire safety training.
The bill â which would mandate a fire safety curriculum and proficiency assessment to gauge student mastery of the material â was introduced in February by State Representative Marjorie C. Decker and State Senator Sal N. DiDomenico in their respective chambers, both Democrats who represent Harvardâs district. As of March 29, the bill has been referred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security for further consideration.
The legislation originated in advocacy by Lauren K. Gibbs â77, who lost her daughter Margalit âMaraâ Gibbs, a student at Reed College in Portland, Ore., in an off-campus fire in February 2017. The fire started in an apartment Mara Gibbs shared with two roommates and after being awakened by the heat and fumes,