Student fires near 2007 level

The number of nuisance fires in North Dunedin's student quarter is rapidly returning to 2007 levels, when problems with unruly student behaviour were at their height.

Fire Service records show that up to Monday it had attended 207 minor fires in North Dunedin this year.

That is 76 more than all of last year (131 fires), and only 43 fewer than were recorded in 2007 (250 fires), the year the University of Otago introduced a code of conduct and started its own million-dollar security team, Campus Watch.

These measures, along with increased education and other efforts from the university, city council and police, had seen the number of fires reported to the Fire Service drop steadily since 2007.

The Fire Service this week expressed disappointment after a weekend on which 31 fires in the student quarter were recorded, and many more extinguished.

The Willowbank appliance was required to stay in the area almost continually for seven hours on Saturday and Sunday, putting out fires.

The behaviour of the fire lighters was idiotic, and arson, the Fire Service said, and disappointing given all the work and money that had been spent on modifying behaviour.

University of Otago student services director David Richardson said it was disappointing the rate of fires had increased this year, given the "great deal" of effort focused on preventive measures.

The university took the issue of fires "extremely" seriously and the consequences for students who lit fires reflected that, with several expelled for lighting fires in recent years.

Campus Watch, whose role was much wider than just fire prevention, was not losing its effectiveness.

The university would continue to work with its students, police, the Fire Service and the city council to keep North Dunedin as safe as possible, he said.

A new pamphlet about the Code of Student Conduct, which clearly outlined the risk and consequences of unacceptable behaviour, would be given to every student coming to the university next year.

The trend had been down in the past few years, and the university would continue to use "all the preventive measures it has" to ensure that continued, Mr Richardson said.

- debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz