24/08/2026
🔥 Students heading off to university? Fire safety is worth talking about before they move in.
I was previously part of the fire safety team at a local university, so I’ve seen first-hand how important fire safety is in student accommodation.
There are some simple messages that I continue to cover on my fire safety courses, including advice that is particularly relevant for parents of students:
🍳 Stay in the kitchen when cooking — particularly when frying, grilling or using the hob.
🔥 Keep anything combustible away from cooking appliances — tea towels, packaging, oven gloves and other items can catch fire surprisingly easily.
🔋 Take lithium-ion battery safety seriously — use the correct charger, don’t use damaged equipment and avoid charging devices overnight or when you’re asleep.
🚪 Keep escape routes and exits clear — never obstruct communal corridors, doors or escape routes with bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters or charging equipment.
🚨 Know what to do if the alarm sounds — get out, stay out and follow the building’s fire safety arrangements.
For parents, it’s worth having this conversation before your son or daughter heads off to university. Fire safety can easily be overlooked when they’re thinking about everything else that comes with moving away from home.
The advice may seem simple, but these are exactly the sorts of everyday behaviours that can make a significant difference.
Move-in season is here and with every college student returning to a dorm or on/off-campus housing, the fire risk in campus housing goes up.
That's why NFPA and The Center for Campus Fire Safety observe Campus Fire Safety Month every September, focusing this year on two of the biggest risks in student residences: safe cooking practices and lithium-ion battery safety.
If you're sending a student off to college this fall, a few tips worth leaving them with:
🔥 Stay in the kitchen when frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling. Turn off the burner if you leave.
🔥Keep flammable items (oven mitts, towels, food packaging) away from the stovetop.
🔥Charge lithium-ion devices only with the equipment they came with. Don't charge overnight or with damaged chargers.
🔥Never block an exit with charging devices, e-bikes, or e-scooters.
Fire sprinkler systems remain the last line of defense when prevention fails. Ask about the fire protection in your student's housing before move-in day!
Learn more at nfpa.org/campussafety.