When your college student leaves for the semester, there may be a lot of thoughts swirling in your head: Will they go to class, pass their exams, stay safe? As parents, it's natural to worry when your kid goes off to college. But a conversation now can help put at least one of those worries to bed.

In the last five years, there have been 165 reported fires in campus housing, according to our State Fire Marshal division. That's why we're asking parents across Minnesota to talk to their college-aged kids about a few simple precautions and an action plan that will help them prevent fires and survive a fire if one starts.

The first step: Check for smoke alarms. A dorm or other on-campus housing should have them, but off-campus housing can be a different story. If your child is renting an apartment or house, make sure they have a smoke alarm for every bedroom and every level of the house. While you're at it, grab some flameless candles, too. They'll give the same ambiance but won't start a fire if tipped over or left unattended.

Second: As your child gets settled in their new space, talk through these additional fire safety tips:

• Clean up immediately after parties and take the trash all the way outside.
• Know two escape routes from their building and practice them.
•  If an alarm sounds, leave everything and get out. Personal belongings can be replaced. They can't.
• A fire doubles in size every 60 seconds, so make sure hallways, stairs and exits are clear so they can get out quickly.
• Talk with their roommates and choose a safe place to meet outside in case of a fire, so they know everyone is safe.

The number one cause of on-campus fires is cooking. Talk with your child to ensure they never leave the stove unattended and never cook while tired or under the influence.

Where fatal campus fires are concerned, alcohol is a key factor and smoking is a common cause. If anyone in your child's house smokes, encourage them to smoke only outside. When they're done with a cigarette, they should never throw it into a potted plant or under a deck – instead, dispose of it properly in a study container filled with sand or water.

With a new semester starting, your kid has a lot to adjust to, whether they're new on campus or close to graduating. Making sure they have the tools and knowledge to stay fire safe can help them cross one very important thing off their list.