Warning After Student Fire

24 February 2010, 11:59 | Updated: 24 February 2010, 12:05

A student halls of residence in Cambridge had to be evacuated after a fire which was started by a pair of hair straighteners.

The Fire Service was called to the fire at Newnham College in Sidgwick Avenue at 8:25pm last night.

Five crews and a rescue vehicle were sent to deal with the fire.

Firefighters arrived at the scene to discover that some students had not evacuated the building, and had to go inside to get them out.

Once inside, a crew found a well developed fire in a room.

It was caused by a pair of hair straighteners which had been left turned on underneath a pile of clothes.

Steve Duffy, watch manager at Cambridge Fire Station, said: "Hair straighteners reach extremely high temperatures and can start a fire easily if placed on flammable surfaces like carpet.

Always double check that you have turned them off properly and ensure that you place them onto a heat resistant surface while they cool down."