Items left on hob cause fire

Firefighters are urging residents to keep their hobs clear after a kitchen fire in Southend today.

When crews arrived to the property it was full of smoke. The resident accidentally turned on the hob as they were leaving.  A plastic bag containing different items was left on the hob which caught fire. This included a small butane cannister which exploded, shattering the window. 

After hearing a loud bang, neighbours called 999. 

Watch Manager Mark Petty-Mayor said: "Using your hob as a storage area or a worktop can be tempting, but please never take the chance.

"It's incredibly easy to accidentally turn your hob on and if that happens and something is on top of it, a kitchen fire is inevitable. So please, keep your hob and oven clean and clear of clutter at all times.

"We fitted the resident with a smoke alarm as they didn't have one in the property."

Hob and cooker top tips: 

• Never use the hob or cooker as a storage area 
• Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob 
• Keep the oven, hob and grill clean, and in good working order – a build-up of fat and grease can ignite a fire 
• Double check the cooker is off when you've finished cooking