03/30/2026
Photoed are Mike Stolfi ( LFD Firefighter/ UNICO Parliamentarian), LFD Chief Christopher Mullin, Seton Hall Dormitory Survivors Alvaro Llanos & Shawn Simons, Representing Livingston High School Cynthia DAndrea, Livingston UNICO President Pat Campanile, LFD Firefighters Najee Brown & Kevin Nuggent, UNICO member Angelo DeGirolamo & kneeling LFD Assistant Fire Chief/ UNICO Executive Vice President Kevin Francione.
On April 25th, Livingston Fire Department, Livingston UNICO, & Livingston Kiwanis Sponsored a presentation Called After the Fire at the Livingston High School for the Graduating Class of 2026. By Two Survivors of the Seton Hall University Bolden Hall Fire that took place in 2000.
Two decades after the devastating Seton Hall dormitory fire, survivors Alvaro Llanos and Shawn Simons continue to turn tragedy into purpose. As students at Seton Hall University, both were severely injured in the fire that broke out in Boland Hall residence dormitory, an event that claimed three young lives and changed many others forever.
Today, Llanos and Simons travel to high schools across the country, speaking directly to seniors who are on the brink of college life. Their message is deeply personal and profoundly impactful. They recount the chaos of that night—the lack of working smoke alarms, the rapid spread of fire, and the life-altering consequences of a moment’s negligence. But more importantly, they emphasize what could have been prevented.
Through their advocacy, they stress the importance of fire safety awareness: never ignoring fire alarms, understanding evacuation procedures, and recognizing the serious consequences of pranks or unsafe behavior. Their story is not just a recollection of the past—it’s a call to action.
For high school seniors preparing to live independently, Llanos and Simons offer a powerful reminder that safety is a shared responsibility. Their voices resonate because they speak not from theory, but from lived experience—urging young people to make choices that could one day save lives, including their own.
