As thousands of students prepare to start studying at Durham University this month, firefighters are sharing their top safety tips for living in shared accommodation.
County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) has warned that being careless when it comes to everyday activities such as cooking and charging devices can have serious consequences.
The warning comes ahead of the university’s Freshers’ Week (September 28 to October 4) when many students will be settling into halls of residence or shared houses across the city.
CDDFRS Station Manager Kevin Bell said: “We know that this will be the first time that many of the students starting university will have lived away from home.
“As a result, they may not consider that the simple things they do every day can pose a serious risk of a fire breaking out, which will not just affect them, but many other students if they are in shared accommodation.
“Things like becoming distracted when cooking and walking away from a pan on the hob or having a few drinks on a night out and forgetting they have left food in the oven can result in a fire.
“Even something as simple as charging a phone or laptop under a pillow or on a sofa instead of a hard surface, or overloading sockets, can cause the device to overheat and lead to a fire.”
The fire service reported that firefighters attended 21 incidents at County Durham student halls of residence in the last year (September 1, 2025, to August 21, 2026).
However, CDDFRS said that figure is likely to be higher, with some student residences recorded as private flats and houses.
Station Manager Bell added: “We want to make sure that students get their year off to a great start, by following our top safety tips to keep themselves and their housemates safe from fire.”
Top fire safety tips for students
- 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.
- Electrical safety – Avoid overloading sockets by using too many appliances and never leave phones or tablets charging on soft furnishings like beds or sofas.
- Candles – Avoid using candles and instead use fragrance sprays or reed diffusers.
- Smoking – If you smoke, ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished.
- Smoke alarms – Make sure there are working smoke alarms on every level of your accommodation and that they are uncovered and tested regularly.
- Escape routes – Know your escape routes for a quick and safe exit in case of fire.
