Crews issue safety advice after kitchen fire
Firefighters have issued safety advice after a kitchen fire in Shoeburyness on Monday evening.
Crews were called to reports of a fire in a third floor flat (the top floor of the premises) and confirmed on arrival that the kitchen was alight.
The fire was started when the occupant of the flat was cooking. When a pan of oil ignited, the occupant threw water on it - inadvertently creating a bigger fire.
Thankfully the fire was extinguished quickly and no-one was injured.
Marc Kyprianou, Crew Manager, said: "This incident could easily have been much more serious.
"Please - if you're cooking with oil, be incredibly careful. If the oil catches fire, never use water to try and extinguish it - you'll cause an even bigger fire.
"If it's safe to do so, turn off the heat - but if you're in any doubt at all, please don't put yourself at risk. Get out, stay out and call the fire service out."
Firefighters also fitted smoke alarms in the flat after extinguishing the fire.
Cooking fire safety advice
Follow our cooking advice to stay safe in your kitchen:
- 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
- If your pan catches fire, turn off the heat if it is safe to do so. Never throw water over it
Do you have working smoke alarms in your home?
Smoke alarms save lives. They can alert your family as well as your neighbours and passers-by to a fire in your home if you're not in.
We recommend you have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home and that you test them at least once a month.
If you or someone you know doesn’t have working smoke alarms at home, please get in touch - we fit them for free! Visit essex-fire.gov.uk/book or call 0300 303 0088 to arrange for yours to be fitted.
