Firefighters Tackle Kitchen Blaze in Southampton Student Accommodation

Date: 2 July, 2025

Fire crews from across Southampton were called to a kitchen fire in student accommodation on Glen Eyre Road yesterday evening, Tuesday, 1 July.

Shortly before 6pm, firefighters from St Mary’s, Redbridge and Eastleigh stations responded to reports of smoke coming from a first-floor flat within the building. On arrival, crews found smoke issuing from a kitchen window.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and used hose reel jets to extinguish the blaze, which had started after combustible materials were left on top of the hob. The fire was quickly brought under control, preventing it from spreading further within the accommodation block.

Once the fire was out, ventilation fans were used to clear lingering smoke from the building. Crews returned to their stations at approximately 6:30pm. No injuries were reported.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service is using the incident to remind residents about the importance of safe cooking practices, particularly in shared housing and student residences.

Cooking fires remain one of the most common incidents the fire service attend, and they are often easily preventable. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service urge everyone to remember their COOK safety message when preparing food.

The COOK campaign offers a simple checklist for safer kitchens:
• CLEAR – Keep tea towels, cloths, and electrical leads away from the oven and hob.
• OVEN – Switch off the oven and hob when you’ve finished cooking and remove pans from the heat.
• OIL – A build-up of cooking oil and grease can increase the risk of cooking fires so clean regularly.
• KEEP – Keep looking when cooking.

For further fire safety tips, visit the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service website.