With over 40% of all accidental house fires starting in the kitchen, Firefighters are asking people to take extra care and take some simple precautions to prevent a kitchen fire in the home.
Throughout February, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service will be raising awareness of distractions and other risks that can increase the chance of a fire starting in the kitchen.
Prevention Station Manager Nathan Stevens said: A fire in the home is a devastating event that can have far reaching and catastrophic consequences, yet many people still believe it could never happen to them and they arent aware of how quickly a fire can start in the kitchen.
Between 2018 and 2019, Firefighters attended 400 accidental house fires, with 43% of these starting in the kitchen. With so many distractions in our homes, an unattended hob, a build-up of fat and grease, or simply a discarded tea towel can quickly lead to a fire if you take your eye off whats happening.
I would encourage everyone to take a minute to follow our top tips for preventing a kitchen fire and to ensure everyone in your home is safe.
Top tips for preventing a fire in your kitchen:
Take pans of the heat, or turn the hob off if leaving the room.Avoid leaving children alone in the kitchen when cooking is on the hob.Keep tea towels, cloths and other flammable materials away from the cooker hob.Double check the hob is off when youve finished cooking.Keep the oven, hob and grill clean and in good working order. A build-up of fat and grease can ignite a fire.Use a thermostat controlled electric deep fat fryer. They cant overheat.Never cook after enjoying a drink or two its easy to fall asleep while the cooker or hob is left on.Ensure you test your smoke alarms weekly. Ensure you have a pre-planned and practiced escape plan in case fire breaks out in your home.What to do if a pan catches fire:
Dont take any risks. If it is safe to do so, turn the heat off never throw water over it.Dont tackle the fire yourself Get Out, Stay Out and Call 999.For more information about keeping safe in the home visit www.derbys-fire.gov.uk
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