Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 03/12/2004 15:19

Firefighters from Newquay were called to a chip pan fire yesterday afternoon at Mount Wise. Flames could be seen on the first floor of the property and firefighters quickly rushed to extinguish it wearing breathing apparatus and using a hose reel.

The fire started after the owner of the property left a chip pan unattended while he went to fetch his little girl from school. His mother lives in the flat downstairs and was in when the chip pan, in the kitchen above, caught fire. Luckily a neighbour saw the flames in the first floor window and alerted the lady to the blaze. After quickly exiting the property they called the fire brigade.

Davinia Grist, PR Officer explains: ˇ§The lady was so lucky to escape this chip pan fire. They had no smoke alarms in the property, and had the neighbour not alerted the occupant to the fire things could have been far worse. The kitchen was very badly fire damaged and the rest of the property was smoke logged as doors had been left openˇ¨


She added: ˇ§The firefighters found that a chip pan had started the fire. Cornwall County Fire Brigade would like to advise the public that chip pans should never be left unattended and that thermostatically controlled chip pans are the safer optionˇ¨.
Here are a few more guidelines that everyone should follow:

„X Never fill a pan more than one-third full of fat or oil
„X Never leave the pan unattended when the heat is switched on
„X Never put the food in the pan if the oil begins to give off smoke. Turn off the heat and leave the oil to cool otherwise it could catch fire
„X If you pan does catch fire turn off the heat if it is safe to do so. Run a cloth under a tap and wring it out. Cover the pan and leave it to cool completely for at least 30 minutes. Whatever you do DO NOT throw water over the fire and donˇ¦t move the pan.
„X If you are in doubt about whether to try to put out a chip pan fire yourself then donˇ¦t ˇV leave the room, close the door and dial 999.

Every home should have a working smoke alarm on each floor. A smoke alarm is your only warning in the event of a fire. Cornwall County Fire Brigade offer free home safety checks to everyone in Cornwall. If you would like firefighters in your village, town or city to visit you and advise you on how to stay safe freephone 0800 3581 999.