Crews issue advice after kitchen fire
Crews have issued safety advice after kitchen fire in Corringham has left a man temporarily homeless.
We were called to a bungalow in Wheatley Road today at 6pm. Two crews from Basildon and one from Orsett attended.
Watch Manager Mark Blakebrough said: "The occupant had finished cooking but accidentally left the his hob on.
"A chip pan caught alight and the fire spread rapidly, destroying the kitchen and causing smoke damage throughout property.
"Thankfully the occupant got out, stayed out and called 999 and crews worked quickly to extinguish the fire and limit the damage as much as possible.
"Please take care in the kitchen, particularly if you are using hot oil because it can set alight easily."
Crews fully extinguished the fire by 6.43pm.
- The bungalow had working smoke alarms, although the occupant noticed the fire before they sounded. Have you got working smoke alarms on every level or your home? If not, call our Home Safety Team on 0300 303 0088.
Cooking safety
Last year, one in three accidental house fires were due to cooking. Follow our advice to stay safe in your kitchen:
- Take care if you need to leave the kitchen while cooking. Take pans off the heat or turn them down
- Make sure saucepan handles don’t stick out – so they don’t get knocked off the stove
- Take care if you’re wearing loose clothing – this can easily catch fire
- Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob
- Double-check the cooker is off when you’ve finished cooking
