The fact there are fewer furniture fires in Dunedin is "pleasing'' but the work to "eradicate'' them will continue, University of Otago proctor Dave Scott says.
Firefighters responded to 19 furniture fires in Dunedin last year, 86% fewer than in 2013.
"The university is pleased with the number of couch fires continuing to track down overall, and 86% is a significant drop.''
Furniture fires "being down across the board'' was a "good news story''.
It was " more positive than negative - with work still to be done to try and eradicate [them] altogether'', Mr Scott said.
Mr Scott said the drop in furniture fires in Castle St was pleasing and revealed the university's strategies were working.
Strategies the university had taken to stop furniture fires included:
Patrols by Campus Watch staff in areas of concern.
Visits to every student flat by Campus Watch staff to reinforce fire safety messages and expectations.
Working to help police apprehend offenders.
Educating students in colleges on behavioural expectations, such as the student code of conduct.
Enforcing the code and its clear and consistent message that if a student lights, or adds to an existing fire, they would very likely be excluded from the university.
Discussions with landlords and students about tenant responsibility.
The installation of CCTVs around campus, including in Castle and Hyde Sts.
More CCTV cameras would be installed around the campus, including Castle St, in the coming months, he said.
Another possible reason for the drop in furniture fires was the greater level of awareness in the North Dunedin community that the consequence of lighting a fire was prosecution, rather than diversion.
The six furniture fires in Hyde St last year revealed there was "still work in educating and monitoring to be done''.
However, houses in Hyde St were home to people other than students last year, he said.
"It would not be fair to assume that only students are accountable for this result,'' Mr Scott said.
"People often make assumptions that they are [to blame].
"Last year in particular, we had a significant problem of non-students coming into the area and creating problems, including lighting couch fires.''
A CCTV camera in Castle St filmed people driving in, lighting a couch fire and driving away, he said.
Fenz fire risk management officer Mark Bredenbeck, of Dunedin, said if the issue of people visiting North Dunedin to burn a couch continued, the problem could be alleviated by students moving their "outdoor furniture'' away from the street.
Mr Bredenbeck commended the university for "owning the problem''.
"It seems to have had an effect - dramatically.''
