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Congressman Roy Blunt's office has announced that Missouri State University will receive a grant to be used to improve cooking safety in campus apartments. KSMU's Jamie Givens reports.
When college students try to replicate some of Mom's tastiest dishes, sometimes the result is a cloud of black smoke and an ear-piercing fire alarm. MSU officials are hoping to cut down on building evacuations and destroyed dinners with a federal grant.
The grant for more than $77,000 will be used to update a total of 135 apartments in three different locations on campus.
Jennifer Cox of MSU's Residence Life and Services says that many students living in these buildings are cooking for the first time.
The university will update apartments in the Sunvilla Towers, Kentwood South, and Dogwood residence facilities.
More than $20,000 will go towards replacing old stoves that are not compatible with the new safety devices.
Cox says this safety system consists of plates that are placed over each burner on the stove, along with a microchip that prevents the system from overheating.
Cox expects the university to begin installing the new safety features in about a month.
For KSMU News, I'm Jamie Givens.