The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging students to ensure that fire safety is a very high priority of theirs. Although your university experience may be a little bit different this year, compared to previous years with the Coronavirus causing widespread disruptions, the chance of having a fire is still a very real risk.

Student Fire Safety Week is from the 26^th October – 1^st November, and we are urging you to read up on your fire safety practises, especially as you will more than likely be spending a lot more time in your Halls of Residence over the course of the year.

Ian Barks, Central Hub Prevention Manager, said: “Universities are facing additional challenges this year, but the risk of fire is as real as ever. With more students spending time in halls or private houses, following some simple safety advice will help reduce the risk of a fire in your home. Make sure you know your fire safety rights when it comes to rented accommodation, and make sure you have working smoke alarms installed to give you the vital time to escape if there were to be a fire.”

Fire statistics, collected by the Home Office for the 2019/20 year, show that there were 162 fires, that were attended by fire and rescue services, and that 66% of these were started by different cooking appliances.

There are steps that you can take to help prevent the likelihood of a fire in your home:

• Avoid cooking after drinking alcohol.
• Ensure toasters are kept clean and are at a safe distance away from curtains.
• If a pan catches fire, do not take any unnecessary risks. Turn off the heat if you can, never throw water over it or try to tackle the fire by yourself.
• Make sure that electrical leads and appliances are kept away from water.

For more ways to stay safe in your home, visit the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Services Safety at Home webpage.

If a fire were to start in your home, there are a number of ways that you can protect yourself:

• Make sure your smoke alarms are working by testing them weekly. All landlords are required to fit at least one smoke alarm on each floor of the premises. Don’t be tempted to cover smoke detectors in your halls – they could save your life. In Halls of Residence, there should be a weekly day that the alarms are tested, for instance in St. George’s Hall, all fire alarms are tested on a Tuesday
• Ensure that fire doors are kept closed
• Make sure fire exits are kept clear and clean, so that in the case of a fire, evacuation of the premises can be completed at a much calmer and quicker rate
• Do you know your escape route in the case of a fire? If not, take a little bit of time to familiar yourself with the process and what to do if worst comes to life

For more information on your fire safety rights as a student, you can visit the Government website, or visit the following pages of Essentials on Fire Safety.