NFPA and CCFS ring alarm on fire risks for campus fire safety month

QUINCY, Mass. — As thousands of college students nationwide are moving into dormitories and off-campus housing, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) work to collaborate on the annual Campus Fire Safety Month campaign to provide vital fire safety education and resources to students, parents, and campus housing staff and administrators.

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.

According to the latest NFPA statistics, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 3,231 structure fires in dormitories, fraternity and sorority houses, and barracks from 2019 -2023. These incidents resulted in an annual average of 19 civilian injuries, and $19 million in direct property damage. Roughly three out of four fires in these properties started in the kitchen or cooking area, accounting for 58 percent of civilian injuries and 11 percent 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. 

“As students adjust to life on campus, cooking quickly becomes one of the leading daily fire risks,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA and CCFS Advisory Council member. “Unattended cooking and the improper use of kitchen appliances remain the primary causes of cooking fires in student housing. Taking these factors into account, NFPA and CCFS underscore the critical need to develop smart cooking habits as part of this year’s Campus Fire Safety Month campaign.”

NFPA and CCFS offer several tips and resources for campus fire safety which can be found online at www.nfpa.org.