As the new school year begins, thousands of college students nationwide are moving into dormitories and off-campus housing, which can lead to a major rise in campus fire hazards. That means facilities managers should remain vigilant about fire safety and help provide resources to key stakeholders.
Through their annual Campus Fire Safety Month campaign every September, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) have partnered to offer vital fire safety education and resources to students, parents, and campus housing staff and administrators to help make resident living spaces as safe as possible. This year’s campaign highlights the importance of safe cooking practices and lithium-ion battery safety, drawing attention to two significant fire hazards in student residences.
Fire Stats
According to the latest NFPA statistics, from 2020-2024, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 3,198 structure fires in dormitories, fraternity and sorority houses, and other related properties. These incidents caused annual averages of two civilian deaths, 20 million civilian injuries, and $20 million in direct property damage.
Roughly three out of four fires in these properties started in the kitchen or cooking area, accounting for 58% of civilian injuries and 14% of the direct property damage. Cooking equipment was involved in nearly eight out of 10 fires; unattended equipment was the most common factor contributing to the ignition of these fires.
Cooking Safety
“The excitement of moving into a new dorm or apartment often comes with new responsibilities, including preparing meals safely,” said Lorraine Carli, VP of outreach and advocacy at the NFPA and CCFS Advisory Council member.
NFPA and CCFS offer several tips and resources for cooking safely, including these key messages:
- Stay alert and present. Do not cook if you’re tired or drowsy from medicine or alcohol. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. Turn off the burner if you leave the kitchen for any reason.
- Keep flammables away from heat sources. Keep anything that can catch fire—oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains—away from your stovetop.
- Be prepared for emergencies. Always have a lid within reach to smother small grease fires. Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, leave the lid on until the pan has cooled. If you have any doubt about fighting a small fire, get outside, close the door behind you, and call 911 from outside the home.
Battery Safety
This year’s campaign also addresses another growing fire safety challenge on campus: lithium-ion batteries. As their use continues to expand in everything from laptops and phones to e-bikes and e-scooters, so does the importance of understanding how to use and charge them safely.
“Lithium-ion batteries are prevalent in the campus environment from laptops to research projects. College students rely on technology, and many use micromobility devices every day. The batteries that power these devices can present safety hazards such as overheating, fire, or even explosions,” said CCFS President and University of Maryland Fire Marshal Alan Sactor.
NFPA and CCFS offer tips for safely using, storing, and charging lithium-ion batteries to help prevent fires:
- Review campus policies. Some dormitories have rules about charging micromobility devices like e-bikes and e-scooters. Review your college/university’s policies before using these devices.
- Buy only listed products. When buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery, look for a safety certification mark. This means it meets important safety standards.
- Charge devices safely. Only use the charging equipment provided with your device, stop charging once full, and never charge overnight or with damaged chargers/batteries.
- Store devices properly. Keep your batteries away from extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, and flammable items, and never block an exit with charging or stored devices.
For more tips and info about Campus Fire Safety Month, visit nfpa.org/campusfiresafety and the CCFS website.
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