Freshmen have sported hard hats and work gloves this week as they constructed the iconic bonfire that will stand at the center of tonight's Homecoming festivities.
Lessons learned after the 1999 bonfire collapse at Texas A&M University have led to a safer environment for students working on the Dartmouth bonfire, Mark Lancaster, sergeant at Safety and Security, told The Dartmouth in 2006. Following the collapse of the Texas bonfire, in which 12 student builders were killed, Dartmouth began strictly regulating its own bonfire construction and design to prevent a similar tragedy.
Composed primarily of members of the Class of 2012, and supplemented by additional upperclassman support, the student-organized bonfire committee will build this year's structure based on a College-approved blueprint designed by faculty and students at the Thayer School of Engineering, Gabrielle Lucke, associate director of the Collis Center and student activities, said. The Homecoming bonfire's unique structure causes the upper tiers to implode into the bottom section rather than collapse haphazardly -- reducing the risk of uncontrolled debris, she added.
Bonfire construction, which began Thursday morning, is scheduled for completion Friday afternoon, according to bonfire committee build chair Brian Ea '12. Special precautions will be taken during the building process to minimize the risk of injury, including the presence of a emergency medical support crew.
Although the build crew accepts any volunteers from the Class of 2012, the first level of the structure is built only by the bonfire committee build chair and a special supervision team, he said. The procedure also limits the number of workers allowed inside the structure as levels are added. Throughout the process, students are required to use appropriate construction gear, including hard-hats, gloves, long pants and close-toed shoes. After student volunteers leave the scene, Safety and Security will monitor the bonfire structure during the night.
According to the Bonfire Construction Safety Policies and Procedures found on the Dartmouth web site, the design includes 62 tiers of square-cut, non-treated lumber arranged from the ground in star, hexagon and square shapes. Student builders are required to adhere to the posted rules, which also prohibit the addition of unapproved structures or attachments, and consequently leave little room for creativity, according to Ea.
"There was a lot of attention focused on how to continue the tradition while making it safe," Lucke said.
In years past, students traditionally built their own structures, trying each time to outdo the work of the previous class, according to bonfire committee co-chair Alfonso Villegas '12.
"Eventually it got to such a height that a cap was imposed," he added.
Despite listing physical restrictions, the Bonfire Construction Safety Policies and Procedures permit some personalization of the bonfire's predetermined form. On Friday afternoon, work will focus on adorning the structure with plywood pieces on which students may write or draw using magic markers, Villegas said.
"I'm excited for people to have fun," Villegas added.
The College will also take precautions during the event to ensure the safety of its students. Measures will include rope divisions between students and the fire as well as the presence of the Hanover Police Department, the Hanover Fire Department and Safety and Security officers, Villegas said. In past years, the most common medical problems have been heat exhaustion and dehydration for freshmen, Lucke added.
Additionally, the student bonfire organizers are asking for the help of fellow students in keeping the event safe.
"Use common sense: don't stampede," Villegas said. "And by far, please don't pre-game."
