Safety in the kitchen

Around 60 per cent of accidental fires in the home start in the kitchen. Taking a few simple measures can make all the difference.

London Fire Brigade has launched a community fire safety campaign to spread key fire safety messages, about issues like cooking. To read more about the Brigade’s community fire safety campaign please click on the image of the chip pan. 

• Make your kitchen safe
• Chip pans / hot fat frying
• Community safety campaign

Make your kitchen safe

• Keep electrical leads, tea towels, cloths, loose clothing and anything else that may catch fire away from the oven and hob.
• Keep the oven, hob and grill clean – a build-up of fat and grease can easily catch fire.
• Keep your toaster clean, free of crumbs and away from curtains, kitchen rolls and anything else that could catch fire.
• Never put anything metallic inside your microwave.
• Never attempt to sterilise dish cloths or sponges by heating them in the microwave.
• Never overload sockets – use one plug in each socket. If you have to, use a fused adapter and keep the total output to no more than 13 amps (a kettle alone uses 13 amps). Remember, high-rated appliances such as washing machines always need their own socket.
• Make sure plugs have the correct fuse for the appliance being used. If in doubt, refer to the manufacturers instructions.
• Turn off electrical appliances when not being used and have them serviced regularly.  
• Keep electrical leads and appliances away from water.
• Use a spark device to light gas cookers as this is safer than using matches or lighters.
• Never leave children alone in the kitchen. Keep matches, lighters and pan handles where children can’t reach them. Fit a child safety catch to the oven door.
• Keep handles of pans turned to the back of the hob and away from other gas burners/electric rings.
• Take pans off the heat and turn off the hob and/or grill if you have to leave the kitchen while cooking, and make sure the oven, hob and grill is turned off when you have finished cooking.
• Avoid cooking if you are tired, have been drinking alcohol or are taking medication that can make you drowsy.

Chip pans / hot fat frying

• Never fill a pan more than a third full with fat or oil.
• Dry chips/food before putting them in the pan.
• If the oil has started smoking turn off the heat and leave the oil to cool down, otherwise it may catch fire.
• Turn off the hob if you have to leave the kitchen whilst cooking.

If your pan catches fire:

• Don't panic and don’t take risks.
• Don't move the pan.
• Never throw water or use a fire extinguisher on a hot fat fire.
• If it's safe to do so - turn off the heat, but never lean over the pan to reach the controls.
• Leave the kitchen, close the door behind you, tell everyone else in the home to get out and don’t go back inside for any reason.
• Call 999