Kitchen Safety

The kitchen is the source of more fires than any other room in the house, however there is no need for your kitchen to be a dangerous place.

By taking some simple precautions you can make your kitchen safe and minimise the risk of fire.

Here's a few hints and tips to make your kitchen a safer place:

• Never leave a chip or fat pan, or grill, unattended while on the heat.
• Turn the handle away from the cooker's edge but make sure it doesn't heat up over other rings in use.
• Never deep fry if you've been drinking alcohol.
• Don't keep tea towels, oven gloves or any other fabric items in the handle to the oven or grill.
• If you have an eye-level grill, don't keep anything on top of it.
• Never leave the house if the oven's on.

For more information about fire safety in the kitchen, check out this resource on the Don't Give Fire a Home website.

What do you do if you have a Chip Pan Fire?

If it's not safe to get to the cooker

If you can't get within arm's reach of the cooker for heat, smoke or flames:

• Get out
• Get everyone else out
• Close the kitchen door
• Call 999
• If you can, turn off the fuel supply (gas or electricity) at the mains
• Stay out of the house until the Fire Service tell you it's safe to come back in

What Not To Do

If it's safe and you can reach the cooker, there are some very important things you should never do to a fat or chip pan fire:

• Never throw water on a fat or chip pan fire.
• Do not use a fire extinguisher on a chip or fat pan fire.
• Don't touch the handle (it will be very hot).
• Don't try to move the pan (it could spill and spread the fire further).

What You Can Do

If it's safe and you can reach the cooker, here are some things you can do:

• Turn off the heat.
• If it's electric, turn off the main wall switch or put the electric off at the fuse box.
• If you have fire blanket handy, put it over the pan to smother the flames.
• If you don't have a fire blanket, use a wet, well-wrung out towel instead.
• Protect your hands and arms while you try to cover the pan and watch your clothing doesn't catch light.
• Wait at least 30 minutes to let the pan cool down.
• Phone the Fire and Rescue Service, even if you think you've put it out.