7 April 2009

Firefighters led a man to safety following a fire in a third floor flat in Milton Keynes last night.

A pan of sausages caused the fire in Radworthy Close, Furzton. The man fell asleep after putting them on to cook and woke to find his home filling with smoke.

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service has renewed its warning to people to be careful in the kitchen following this incident, which happened at about 8.55pm.

Terry Ridgley, head of the community safety team, said: “Most house fires start in the kitchen. It only takes a moment’s distraction while cooking for something like this to happen.

"I would particularly like to remind people that it is never a good idea to start cooking if you are feeling tired and are in danger of falling asleep with the cooker or oven on."

Two appliances and crews from Great Holm and one from Bletchley attended the incident, along with Station Manager Tony Venables and Group Manager Steve Foster. Firefighters ventilated the area to clear the smoke, while paramedics from South Central Ambulance Service treated the occupant for the effects of breathing in smoke.

The fire was contained in the kitchen, however there was smoke logging to the remainder of the flat.

All residents in the three-storey block of flats were evacuated.

Terry offered the following kitchen safety tips:

• Don’t leave pans unattended. Take them off the heat if you have to leave the room. Fire starts when your attention stops.
• Keep the oven, hob and grill clean. A build-up of fat and grease can easily catch fire.
• Take care late at night – it’s easy to be careless when you’re tired or if you’ve been drinking.
• Don’t put anything metallic inside the microwave.
• Take care if you are wearing loose clothing – it can easily catch fire.
• Don’t overload sockets – use one plug in each socket. If you have to, use a fused adaptor and keep the total output to no more than 13 amps.
• Remember – high-rated appliances like washing machines always need their own socket.
• Keep electrical leads and appliances away from water.
• Check the toaster is clean and is away from curtains and kitchen rolls.
• Turn off electrical appliances when they are not being used and service them regularly.
• When you’ve finished cooking, make sure the cooker or oven is turned off.
• Don’t use matches or lighters to light gas cookers. Spark devices are safer.
• Turn saucepan handles so they don’t stick out from the hob.
• Keep the oven door shut.
• Keep electrical leads, tea towels and cloths away from the cooker.
• The kitchen isn’t a play area – don’t leave children on their own in the kitchen.
• Keep matches and saucepan handles out of reach.