Remember to watch what you heat

Following a recent fire in one of our halls, confirmed to have started in a kitchen, we wanted to share a fresh reminder about staying safe while you cook.

Most of us use the kitchen every day without thinking twice about it, especially in busy student life with late-night snacks, group dinners and revision-fuelled toast runs. But it only takes a few seconds of distraction for a small mistake to turn into a serious fire.

When you’re cooking in halls, please always remember to “Watch what you heat” and keep these basics in mind.

Stay with your food

It sounds simple, but it’s the big one:

• Don’t get distracted while you’re cooking. Scrolling on your phone, going to chat in someone’s room, “just popping to the bathroom” – it all adds up, and it’s easy to forget you’ve left something on the hob.
• If you do need to leave the kitchen, either turn the heat down or take pans off the hob. That quick errand can take longer than you think.

Keep the hob clear and safe

A lot of kitchen fires start because things are left too close to the heat:

• Turn pan handles inwards, so they don’t stick out where someone can knock them as they walk past.
• Keep tea towels, cloths, packaging and oven gloves away from the hob. They can catch fire much faster than you’d expect.
• Be careful if you’re wearing loose clothing, oversized sleeves or scarves – they can easily brush against a hot ring or flame.

Know when not to cook

We know late-night food after a night out is tempting, but it’s one of the most common fire risks in student accommodation:

• Don’t cook if you’ve been drinking or you feel even slightly out of it.
• The same goes if you’ve taken medication that makes you drowsy – it’s far safer to grab a cold snack or order food than risk forgetting you’ve left something on the hob.

If you’re tired, unwell or not fully alert, skip the frying pan.

Before you leave the kitchen

Make a quick habit of doing a last check every time you finish cooking:

• Double-check the cooker is off – all rings and the oven.
• Wipe up any oil or grease spills so they don’t burn next time.
• Make sure nothing has been left on or right next to the hob.

It takes less than a minute and can prevent a lot of damage.

Fire alarms and equipment

A quick reminder for everyone in Coventry halls:

• Never cover or tamper with smoke detectors – they’re there to protect you and your neighbours.
• Know where the fire exits are on your floor, and keep routes clear of clutter.
• If the fire alarm sounds, leave the building straight away and don’t go back for belongings.
• If there’s a fire in the kitchen, don’t take risks trying to deal with it yourself – get out, close the door behind you if it’s safe to do so, and raise the alarm.

Living in halls means you’re cooking close to a lot of other people. By taking a bit of extra care every time you use the kitchen, you’re not just looking after yourself, you’re helping to keep your whole community safe.

Please keep this in mind next time you turn the hob on, and remember: watch what you heat. 🔥🍳