The staged bedsit fire at this year's open day at Broughton Fire Station is pictured above. The blaze took hold in just two minutes.
25 September 2008
College and university students in shared or rented accommodation are being urged to keep safe from fire.
The plea comes from firefighters and community safety staff at Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service. They say that hectic student lifestyles, coupled with partying, smoking, drinking and in some cases getting to grips with cooking for the first time, mean students could be putting themselves at higher risk of fire.
They are placing themselves in further danger when they come home from a night out drinking and prepare a midnight feast on the stove. More than half of student deaths in fires occur through the misuse of cooking appliances and careless handling of hot substances. Students are recommended to prepare less hazardous snacks after drinking, such as fruit, sandwiches and ice cream.
Terry Ridgley, head of Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service's community safety team, said: "With so much else going on we appreciate that the typical student is unlikely to be anxious about domestic duties such as cleaning rotas, bills or, crucially, fire safety.
“This can be a big concern for parents as they see their children, now young adults, leave the safety and security of the family home.
"But students need to be aware of fire safety issues in their new homes. Fires can cause huge devastation, so the effort of fitting and regularly checking a smoke alarm means you, your friends and your possessions will be safe.
“We are also urging housemates to think about the escape route they would take in the event of a fire. It’s obviously much better to think about this in advance than to have to make it up while you’re in the middle of a real emergency.”
Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service is keen to get the message across to anyone who is about to start further education in Buckinghamshire or Milton Keynes, or who is about to enter university or college life elsewhere in the country, and who will be living in rented, shared or bedsit-style accommodation.
Nationally, the campaign is being fronted by Hollyoaks cast members Lena Kaur, who plays art student Leila Roy, and Zoë Lister, who plays student Zoë Carpenter.
Firefighters and community safety staff gave a dramatic demonstration at this year’s open day at Broughton Fire Station showing just how quickly a typical bedsit could go up in flames. Within two minutes of a firefighter setting light to a specially-constructed furnished room it was full of smoke and engulfed in flames.
Simple tips for keeping safe from fire in student accommodation are:
- Fit smoke alarms on each level of the house and test them weekly
- Don't leave cooking unattended
- Don't attempt to cook while under the influence of alcohol
- Don't overload plug sockets
- Switch off electrical appliances like mobile chargers and hair straighteners when not in use
- Take extra care with cigarettes and smoking materials and never smoke in bed – when a cigarette is finished, put it out, right out!
- Never leave candles or tea lights unattended and ensure that they are put in safe holders
- Check furniture has the permanent fire-resistant label
- Practise an escape route with your housemates
- If a fire starts, get out, stay out and dial 999.
If you live in Buckinghamshire or Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service will carry out a free fire safety check in your home and fit free smoke alarms where necessary. To book an appointment, fill in the online form, ring 01296 744477 or send an email to cs@bucksfire.gov.uk
Two fire safety leaflets aimed at students and other people living in rented accommodation are available for download here:
Protect yourself
Fire safety for people in shared or rented accommodation