Safety advice issued after kitchen fire

Firefighters have issued safety advice following a kitchen fire at a flat in Kenway, Southend, this afternoon.

Crews from Southend and Shoebury were called at 3.16pm after a quick thinking neighbour raised the alarm.

They arrived to find the kitchen in a ground floor flat full of smoke after a pan had been left cooking on the hob while the occupants had popped out.

Watch Manager Dan Trendell said: “Luckily there was minimal damage but this could have been a lot worse.

“We’d advise not to go out and leave your cooking unattended, even if it’s just for a few moments. Also make sure you have a working smoke alarm and test it regularly. Smoke alarms give you or your neighbours early warning so we can get to you in time and prevent damage to your property.”

Did you know that more than half of the accidental fires at home are started by cooking - follow our cooking safety 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 to avoid risk
• 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
• 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

We also offer free home safety visits where we can help you reduce the risk of a fire in your home. 

Head to our website to find out more.