Smoke alarms alert man to kitchen fire

Firefighters have highlighted the importance of having working smoke alarms after smoke alarms alerted a man to a fire in his kitchen earlier today.

Crews were called to a kitchen fire in a ground floor flat in Brentwood and on arrival found the flat heavily smoke logged. 

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 8pm and believe it started accidentally when cooking on the hob ignited. 

A man has been rendered homeless due to the smoke damage in his home and was given oxygen therapy at the scene by firefighters. 

He also needed medical treatment for burns to his hands after he attempted to put out the fire with tea towels.

Watch Manager Mark Elsey from Orsett Fire Station said: “If there is a fire in your home, please do not try to tackle it yourself even if it is your first instinct. This fire quickly took hold and fires can quickly spread, that’s why it is so important to get out of the house, stay out and call us out. 

“The man thought quickly to shut the kitchen door on his way out and this contained the fire to the kitchen.

“Incidents like this really highlight why it is so important to have working smoke alarms in your home. We recommend you have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home and that you test them regularly.”

Do you have working smoke alarms?

We want every home in Essex to have a working smoke alarm on every floor.

If you or someone you know doesn’t have working smoke alarms at home, please get in touch so we can see how best to provide fire safety advice, either through a Home Safety Visit or advice over the phone.

You can get in touch with us at essex-fire.gov.uk/book

More than half of accidental fires at home are started by cooking - follow our cooking safety advice:

• Take care if you need to leave the kitchen while cooking, take pans off the heat or turn them down to avoid risk
• Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob. Keep your hobs clear of items
• Double check the cooker is off when you’ve finished cooking
• Avoid leaving children in the kitchen alone when cooking on the hob.  Keep matches and saucepan handles out of their reach
• Make sure saucepan handles don’t stick out
• Do not attempt to cook if you have been drinking or are very tired