Kitchen fire - dog accidentally turns on hob
Firefighters have issued a warning to homeowners following a kitchen fire in Colchester this morning.
Watch Manager Ian Ryder, Colchester Fire Station said:
"We are urging residents in Essex to keep their hobs and oven completely clear. This morning we were called out to a kitchen fire which started after a cardboard box was left on top of an electric hob. The hob had been turned on accidentally by the family's pet dog.
"Thankfully the house had working smoke alarms, so alerted the occupants at the first sign of fire, which enable them to get out, stay out and call the fire service out.
"If you have an electric hob, it's best to turn the hob off at the switch when you are not using it. That way it can't be accidentally turned on".
When firefighters arrived at the house they found the kitchen full of smoke. They quickly extinguished the fire and ventilated the property. Thanks to the working smoke alarms and quick actions by the firefighters, the damage was contained to the kitchen.
Cooking Fire Safety
- Avoid leaving children alone in the kitchen when cooking. Keep matches and saucepan handles well out of reach to keep them safe
- 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
