Firefighters issue warning to students living in shared accommodation

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As thousands of students start university or college this month, firefighters have issued important safety advice to prevent fires from breaking out in shared accommodation.

To mark Student Fire Safety Week (September 22-28), County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) has warned that being careless when it comes to everyday tasks such as cooking and charging phones or laptops can have serious consequences.

It comes as the service reports that firefighters attended to 20 incidents at student halls of residence in the last year (September 2024 – September 2025).

Kevin Bell, Station Manager of Community Safety and Arson Reduction at CDDFRS, said: “Many young people will have left home for the first time and moved into student halls or house shares as they begin their studies.

“While landlords and educational institutions are legally required to ensure accommodation is fire safe, students need to be aware that their own careless actions can have serious consequences – particularly when it comes to cooking, charging their electronic devices and using candles.

“Becoming distracted or overloading sockets can lead to fires breaking out and put people and property in danger.

“We want to make sure that students are aware of how to keep themselves and their housemates safe from fire by sharing the key advice below.”

Top fire safety tips for students

  1. Kitchen safety – Many student fires start in the kitchen. Never leave cooking unattended, keep flammable items like oven gloves and tea towels away from the hob, and never attempt to cook if you’ve been drinking alcohol. 
  2. Electrical safety – Avoid overloading sockets by using too many appliances and never leave phones or tablets charging on soft furnishings like beds or sofas. 
  3. Candles – Avoid using candles and instead use fragrance sprays or reed diffusers.
  4. Smoking – If you smoke, ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished.
  5. Smoke Alarms – Make sure there are working smoke alarms on every level of your accommodation and that they are uncovered and tested regularly.
  6. Escape Routes – Know your escape routes for a quick and safe exit in case of fire.