Is having a chip pan worth losing your life for?

Date published: 07/02/2006

Is the question Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is asking as National Chip Week begins (13 to 19 February).

Since April 2005 there have been 1096 accidental fires in homes within Greater Manchester, 86 of them in Rochdale, caused by a pan left on an unattended electric/gas hob.

These fires have resulted in 3 people losing their lives and 568 people needing some form of treatment (ranging from oxygen therapy to hospitalisation) - 61 of them in Rochdale.

Recent research has resulted in GMFRS ceasing to provide advice on how to tackle these types of fire as concern has been raised about people getting injured whilst trying to do so.

In addition the Service is recommending that people get rid of their old fashioned chip pans and replace them with deep fat fryers which have a thermostat to control the temperature of the oil.

Rochdale Borough Commander, Dave Astley, said “It would seem that most people’s excuse for having a chip pan is that the chips taste better. I would question whether they taste good enough to die for? It’s all too easy for someone to put a chip pan on, get distracted or fall asleep resulting in a fire occurring with sometimes with tragic consequences”

The Service has issued the following guidance:

• Only cook chips in a deep fat fryer or try oven chips instead
• Never leave cooking unattended
• Never cook food after returning home from a night out at the pub
• If you are unfortunate enough to have a fire, switch the heat off if safe to do so, close the door on the fire, make sure everyone in the house is aware of the fire, get out, dial 999 and stay out until the fire service say it is safe to go back in
• Make sure you have at least one working smoke alarm per floor level in your home.

For a free fire safety check call 0800 555 815