Many accidental fires in the home start in the kitchen and are caused mainly by cooking. A few safety measures can help keep you and your family safe.

  • Take extra care if you need to leave the kitchen whilst cooking, take pans off the heat or turn them down to avoid risk.
  • Avoid cooking when under the influence of alcohol.
  • Avoid leaving children in the kitchen alone when cooking. Keep matches and sauce pan handles out of their reach to keep them safe.
  • Take care if you’re wearing loose clothing – they can easily catch fire.
  • Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob.
  • Double check the cooker is off when you’ve finished cooking

Kitchen Electrics

  • Keep electrics (leads and appliances) away from water.
  • Check toasters are clean and placed away from curtains and kitchen rolls.
  • Keep the oven, hob and grill clean and in good working order. A build up of fat and grease can ignite a fire.
  • Don’t put anything metal in the microwave

Deep Fat Frying

  • Take care when cooking with hot oil – it sets alight easily. If the oil starts to smoke – it’s too hot. Turn off the heat and leave it to cool.
  • Use a thermostat controlled electric deep fat fryer. They can’t overheat. If a pan catches fire, turn off the heat if it’s safe to do so. Never throw water over it.
  • Don’t tackle the fire yourself.
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