‘Take care when cooking’

Date published: 22 February 2012

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to be more cautious when cooking, following a series of kitchen fires.

Fire-fighters have been called to a number of cooking-related incidents over the past 24 hours, all of which could have been avoided.

The incidents included a fire involving a toaster and a fire caused by unattended food on a grill pan.

Chairman of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority, Councillor David Acton, said: "Please think when you are cooking and make sure you are keeping yourself and your home safe from fire.

“So many of the kitchen fires we attend could have been so easily avoided, preventing the distress and damage caused."

Top five tips for preventing fires in your kitchen: 

• Never leave cooking unattended, not even to answer the door or phone, as a fire could develop while you are distracted
• Keep your oven, hob and grill clean. A build up of fat and grease can easily catch fire
• Check the toaster is clean and away from curtains and kitchen rolls
• Turn off electrical appliances when they are not being used and service them regularly
• Swap your chip pan for an electric deep fat fryer - electrically deep fat fryers that plug into the wall are much safer to use.