Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

St Johns Road, Helston at 04/01/2006 23:33

2 appliances from Helston and an appliance from Mullion were quickly in attendance following a report of an alarm sounding in a house that was full of smoke and lights on. Believing that there might be people trapped ambulance and police were also requested to attend.

On arrival the crews found that there was a small fire in the kitchen and that the single occupier had managed to escape with the help of neighbours and/or passers-by. The occupier was suffering the effects of smoke inhalation and was treated on scene by ambulance personnel.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using one hosereel. The fire involved a pressure cooker that had been left unattended on a cooker and had subsequently boiled dry.

General Kitchen Fire Safety Advice:
The most important point about cooking is to avoid being distracted. Most kitchen fires occur when people leave things unattended.

If you're called away from the cooker - by the phone, say, or by someone at the door - take pans off the heat. It's the easiest thing in the world to forget about them.
Don't let yourself be distracted while cooking.
Don't cook if you're affected by alcohol or prescription drugs.
Turn saucepan handles so they don't stick out (and aren't over another ring).
Keep the oven door shut.
Don't put oven gloves or tea towels down on the cooker after you've used them.
Always clean the grill pan after using it.

Related item: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=723