30 April 2008

Firefighters are reminding people to be careful in the kitchen following a fire in Milton Keynes yesterday evening.

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service received the call at 7.33pm to a house in Pinders Croft, Greenleys, where a pan left on the cooker had started a fire in the kitchen.

The two occupants of the house managed to get out safely and alert the emergency services.

The kitchen door was closed preventing the fire from spreading and confining the smoke damage to one area.

Two appliances and crews from Great Holm attended the incident. Firefighters used one hose reel and two sets of breathing apparatus to make sure the fire was out, and ventilated the house using a large fan.

Unfortunately a dog died in the incident.

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 to check that they have turned the oven, cooker or hob off when they have finished cooking”.

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.