False fire alarms in the residence halls happen more often than actual fires, and it proves to be a problem for those involved.

“It is a huge inconvenience. People should learn to respect everybody else,” said Karl Schindel, a junior in business and a former Friley and Helser Halls resident.

Everybody is always on his or her own schedule and a false fire alarm just throws things off, Schindel said.

Ames Fire Chief Michael Childs estimated that two-thirds of fire alarm calls are “prank calls.”

“It always seems to be during dinner,” Schindel said.

Schindel said that it was not much fun to evacuate Friley Hall last January during the record breaking cold of the month.

Brian Belden, a junior in civil engineering who lives in Dodds House in Friley, said of one false alarm he encountered that it was just stupid and frustrating. The people on his floor were less than 100 feet away and could not go into their rooms.

When somebody pulls an alarm for a prank and is caught, he or she is subject to criminal prosecution and in addition has to give a fire safety discussion on their floor accompanied by a member of the Ames Fire Department.

A new fire sprinkler and automatic heat and smoke detection system was installed in Westgate and Buchanan Halls this summer.

James Judy, director of Residence Hall Maintenance, acknowledged that there have been quite a few false alarms in Buchanan so far this year but said that the system was responding to what it was supposed to.

Located just above the kitchenettes, the new fire system was overly sensitive to the rising heat, so Judy said it was decided to raise the temperature to 165 degrees to lessen sensitivity.

Plans are to install the new fire system in Maple-Willow-Larch Halls right after the students get out for the spring semester and have it ready for next fall, Judy said. The plans must first pass the state Board of Regents.

When the fire is real, there can be any number of causes that will set an alarm off. Most of the causes are accidental, while some involve arson, Childs said.

Popcorn overheating in microwaves, overloaded electrical circuits, and shirts draped over lamps have been some causes of fires.