| KFRS issued a few simple tips to keep homes and residents safe from the risk of cooking fires |
Nearly a third (30.4 percent) of accidental dwelling fires that KFRS attended last year were cooking related.*
Head of Community Safety Stuart Skilton said: "Overheated oil in pans, deep fat fryers or dirty ovens and grill pans along with unattended cooking are the main cause of cooking fires. A moment's distraction, especially if under the influence of alcohol, could find you faced with a serious fire that could take your home or your life. People also risk serious injury as a result of these types of incidents so take our advice and help keep you and your family safe."
Residents can take the following safety measures:
- Don't leave pans unattended. Take them off the heat if you leave the room. Remember, fire starts when your attention stops
- Turn saucepan handles so that they don't stick out from the hob
- Never fill a pan more than one-third full of fat or oil. If the oil starts to smoke, do not begin cooking - remove from the heat and leave it to cool
If there is a fire, get out, stay out and call the Fire and Rescue service
- Keep the oven, hob and grill clean - a build up of fat and grease can easily catch fire
- Do not leave items on top of a hob in case it is accidentally turned on
- If you are going out for a night out and may be drinking, try and pre-plan for your return home and take a snack from the fridge or cupboard instead of turning on the cooker for a hot meal
- Fit smoke alarms on every floor of your home, and test the batteries regularly
- If there is a fire, get out, stay out and call the Fire and Rescue service.
Oil and fat fires are not minor - they can and do injure and kill!
*KFRS figures for April 2008 to March 2009 show that out of 760 accidental dwelling fires attended 231 were cooking related.