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    working in partnership to make Dorset safer

Fires in the kitchen

 

In 2011, Dorset Fire and Rescue Service attended 215 cooking related incidents; these could have been easily avoided if more people were aware of basic cooking safety. Being aware of the dangers of fire and taking preventative measures could help save the lives of you and your family. Your home and kitchen are full of potential fire risks; if you are aware of these risks you can ensure that you reduce the chances of a fire starting.
 
Most kitchen fires occur when people are distracted or leave things unattended. Please remember:
  • If you are called away from the cooker take pans off the heat and remove grill pans from under the grill. This will only take a minute but could save your life.
  • Don’t cook if you are affected by alcohol or prescription drugs.
  • Don’t put oven gloves or tea-towels down onto the hot cooker after you’ve used them.
  • Turn saucepans so that its handle does not stick out (or isn’t over another ring).
  • Use a cooking timer to remind you when your food is ready.
  • Clean out your grill pan after using it
  • Clean out the crumb tray in your toaster regularly.
Fires strike when you least expect them, get equipped with a smoke alarm. They can be purchased for around £5 which is a small price to pay to save you and your loved ones. Remember your smoke alarm must work to save your life. Make sure you check the battery once a week, dust it every six months, change the battery every twelve months (unless it’s a ten year alarm) and change your alarm every ten years. There are also alarms with strobe lighting and vibrating pads for people who are hard of hearing or deaf.
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service offer advice and resources that help keep residents safe in their homes. We welcome requests for our crews to visit local residents and carry out free Home Safety Checks. These checks make sure each home has a working smoke detector and the occupier has knowledge of how to prevent fires from starting, and if the worst should happen, how to escape in the event of a fire.
 
If you would like more information please check out the Fire Kills advice or request a home safety check please phone 01305 252600, call freephone 0800 0382323 or go to our online form

 

Fire Safety in the Home

Please click the icon below to download the information we give on a Home Safety Check.