Fight fire with safety

There’s nothing like a good home-made meal, but let’s make sure cooking it remains safe and stress-free.  

Recently there was a small kitchen fire in a residential block. Thankfully, everyone is safe.   

Your safety is always our top priority. Fires in the kitchen can happen in seconds. In this instance the fire happened when someone was cooking with oil. They attempted to put it out with water, but water doesn’t work on every type of fire and in some cases (like with oil) can make it worse.  

How to put out a pan fire 

Even if you're a very careful cook, accidents can happen, so it's important to know what to do. If a pan catches fire, there are four steps to take to stay safe:  

• Don't tackle the fire yourself and don't try to move the pan. 
• Never throw water over a fire as it could create a fireball. 
• Turn off the heat, to stop the fire from growing, but only if it's safe to do so. 
• Leave the room, close the door, warn others, and call 999 for emergency services. 

Here are some tips to stay safe while you cook 

Stay with your food  
Never leave your cooking unattended. This includes air fryers, even though they have built in temperature controls and timers.  

Swap the fryer for the oven  
Opt for oven-baked meals instead of deep-fat frying – it’s safer and just as tasty! Or try an air fryer. Make sure you clean it after each use though as this reduces fire risk. 

Switch off when you're done  
Turn off all cooking appliances when not in use – it’s a simple habit that protects your home.  

Keep flammables away 
Towels, oven mitts, packaging – keep them away from the hob to avoid accidental fires.  

Toaster and air fryer safety tips  
Keep your toaster and air fryer clear of flammable items and never use them beneath a wall-mounted cupboard – heat needs space! You can find more safety tips about air fryers on our website.  

More ways to stay safe 

Do the London Fire Brigade’s Home Safety Check.
With the LFB’s fire safety checker, you can get advice tailored to your home. You’ll find it on their website.  

Check out LFB’s tips to keep your home safe 

Tips for cooking 
How would you escape in an emergency? 

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