23/09/2025
Fire Service Issues Safety Advice To Students
The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) is calling on students to prioritise fire safety as thousands of them prepare to begin or return to university or college.
As part of Student Fire Safety Week, which began today, NIFRS is urging students living in halls of residence or shared housing to take responsibility for their new homes.
Area Commander Suzanne Fleming said that many students may not be aware of the factors that increase the risk of accidental house fires. She said the goal of NIFRS is to provide students with the knowledge to stay safe from fire at home. This year's focus is on safe charging of electronic devices like phones and laptops, with the NIFRS recommending that devices are not charged on soft surfaces or through overloaded extension leads.
The NIFRS has also highlighted that cooking is the number one cause of accidental fires. The service is encouraging students to never leave cooking unattended, keep the cooking area clean, and be mindful of loose clothing that can easily catch fire. It also advises students under the influence of alcohol to get a takeaway rather than attempt to cook.
Students are also reminded to check for working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and to know their escape routes. If a fire starts, the advice is to close the door on the fire, alert everyone in the property if safe to do so, get out, stay out, and call 999. NIFRS crews will be engaging with students at freshers' events across universities and colleges in Northern Ireland throughout the week.
To read more student fire safety advice, please visit www.nifrs.org
As part of Student Fire Safety Week, which began today, NIFRS is urging students living in halls of residence or shared housing to take responsibility for their new homes.
Area Commander Suzanne Fleming said that many students may not be aware of the factors that increase the risk of accidental house fires. She said the goal of NIFRS is to provide students with the knowledge to stay safe from fire at home. This year's focus is on safe charging of electronic devices like phones and laptops, with the NIFRS recommending that devices are not charged on soft surfaces or through overloaded extension leads.
Students are also reminded to check for working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and to know their escape routes. If a fire starts, the advice is to close the door on the fire, alert everyone in the property if safe to do so, get out, stay out, and call 999. NIFRS crews will be engaging with students at freshers' events across universities and colleges in Northern Ireland throughout the week.
To read more student fire safety advice, please visit www.nifrs.org
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.