Chip Pan Fires

Warning after chip pan fire in Crewe

A woman who fell asleep after putting her chip pan on had a lucky escape after being woken by her smoke alarm in Crewe.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging residents not to use traditional chip pans, which can easily result in a serious or even fatal fire, and reminding people about the importance of having a working smoke alarm.

On the evening of Tuesday 16 September, the woman heard the smoke alarm and went into the kitchen where the pan was ablaze. She put a wet blanket on top of it but the weight of the blanket caused the pan to fall off the cooker and she was splashed with fat causing minor burns to her arm.

She then closed the door, left the house, and called 999 at 9.43pm.

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went into the house and used one hose reel to extinguish the fire. A large fan was then used to clear the smoke.
The woman had suffered some smoke inhalation and minor burns to her arm and was taken to hospital to be checked over.

Crewe Watch Manager Simon Gildea said: "Fortunately we had fitted smoke alarms in the lady's house a few years ago and this alerted her to the fire, giving her that vital time to get out the house before it was too late. I hope this case highlights to people the importance of having smoke alarms and encourages them to regularly check they are working.

"Chip pans are so dangerous and I would encourage people not to use them as there are plenty of other options for cooking chips which can keep you and your family safer."
Alternative ways to enjoy chips
Microwave them. It's quick, easy and they taste just as good
Choose oven chips instead. Not only are they safer to cook but they're lower in fat too
Instead of cooking chips at home, why not buy a portion of chips from the local chip shop?
Buy an electric deep fryer and ditch the chip pan. They are safer to use and look better in the kitchen!

Tips for cooking chips safely
If you must cook chips in a traditional chip pan you should follow these fire safety tips:
Don't cook after drinking alcohol
Don't throw water on a chip pan fire
Don't overfill a chip pan with oil- never fill it more than one-third full
Take care when cooking with hot oil- it sets alight easily
If the oil starts to smoke, it's too hot. Turn off the heat and leave it to cool
Use a thermostat controlled electric deep fat fryer. They can't overheat
Do not leave cooking unattended and avoid leaving children in the kitchen alone when cooking on the hob
Make sure food is dry before putting it in hot oil so it doesn't splash
What to do if a pan catches fire
Don't take any risks
Turn off the heat if it is safe to do so
NEVER throw water over it
Don't tackle the fire yourself
Get Out, Stay Out, Call 999

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