Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

Mitchell Court, Truro at 03/06/2003 18:04

2 crews from Truro attended a fire in a grill pan. The occupier did not have any smoke alarms but luckily was awake at the time of the fire. Using a damp cloth she attempted to extinguish it but was unsuccssful. Doing the sensible thing she got out and called the fire brigade out.

Firefighters in Breathing Apparatus extinguished the fire. The owner has now fitted a smoke alarm.

Kitchen Fire Safety
This is potentially the most hazardous area in the home. Every year cooking appliances cause over 50% of accidental fires, killing around 70 people per year and causing approximately 5,000 injuries.
Ensure your cooker and grill pans are kept free from accumulations of fat.
Ensure the cooker is turned off when you are not using it.
Keep furnishings e.g. curtains and other combustibles away from the cooker
Take care with loose clothing when reaching over the cooker, especially lit gas rings
People die each year as a result of clothes catching fire over naked flames
Ensure leads from kitchen electrical appliances are kept well away from the cooker
Do not put toasters under wall mounted units, they can easily spread a fire
Ensure pots and pans are safely located on the cooker.
Handles should not protrude into the room, or across a lit gas ring.