During February, people across the county may be spending more time in the kitchen. Whether you are cooking a tasty meal for Valentine’s Day or baking delicious treats in the school half-term, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) want to encourage you to take care when cooking.
“Half of all accidental fires in the home are caused by cooking-related accidents.” says Gail Muirhead, West Hub Prevention Manager for RBFRS. “To reduce the risk of a fire starting in your kitchen, remember to keep looking when cooking. Don’t allow yourself to get distracted and never leave cooking unattended.
“Always take care when placing pans on the hob, making sure that the handles are not sticking out where they could be easily knocked, and always double check that your oven and cooker has been turned off after cooking.
“If a pan does catch fire, turn off the heat only if it is safe to do so and never throw water over it. Don’t try to tackle the fire yourself. You must get out, stay out and call 999 immediately.”
Remember our safety advice to protect yourself, your loved ones and your home from a kitchen-related fire.
Cooking:
- Keep looking when cooking – don’t get distracted;
- Take care if you are wearing loose clothing;
- Keep tea towels, cloths and other items away from the oven and hob area;
- Never leave cooking unattended – if you do need to leave the kitchen whilst cooking, take pans off the heat or turn them down to avoid risk;
- Don’t cook if you’ve been drinking alcohol or taking medication;
- Avoid leaving children in the kitchen alone when cooking on the hob – keep matches and saucepan handles out of their reach to keep them safe;
- Make sure saucepan handles don’t stick out so they don’t get knocked off the stove;
- Double check that the cooker is off when you’ve finished cooking;
- Keep the oven, hob and grill clean and in good working order – a build up of fat and grease can ignite a fire.
Electrics in the Kitchen:
- Keep electrics (leads and appliances) away from water;
- Check toasters are clean and placed away from curtains and kitchen rolls.
Deep Fat Frying:
- Take care when cooking with hot oil – it sets alight easily;
- Make sure food is dry before putting it in hot oil so it doesn’t splash;
- If the oil starts to smoke, it’s too hot – turn off the heat and leave it to cool;
- Use a thermostat-controlled electric deep fat fryer – they can’t overheat.
Read our Safety at Home – Cooking webpage.