Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service – promoting staying safe in the kitchen

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 aren’t 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 what’s 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 you’ve 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 can’t overheat.
• Never cook after enjoying a drink or two – it’s 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:

• Don’t take any risks.  If it is safe to do so, turn the heat off – never throw water over it.
• Don’t 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