ESSEX Firefighters gave first aid to man who had suffered burns after a chip pan caught light in his kitchen in Darwin Road, Tilbury.
Crews reported that the fire was out on arrival but that the man had been burned after he threw water onto the flaming hot oil. After receiving first aid from crews the man was left in the care of the Ambulance Service at 15:02hrs.
Incidents like this show how easily cooking can turn to disaster. More fires break out in the kitchen than any other room; in Essex more than half the house fires the Service attends start in the kitchen and one in three domestic fires start with someone cooking.
To make sure you stay as safe as possible in the kitchen:
• Avoid leaving cooking unattended and never leave children in the kitchen alone.
• If you have to leave the kitchen to answer the door or send a text, turn off the cooker.
• Never leave children alone whilst cooking – what’s more important, your text or your child?
• Take care if you’re wearing loose clothing – they can easily catch fire.
• Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob.
• 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.
• 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. Ideally cook oven chips but if you are deep fat frying then use a thermostat controlled electric deep fat fryer – they can’t overheat.
• Never throw water on a fat fire. Eitjher try to smother the fire with a damp tea-towel or close leave closing the door behind you and call 999 straight away
