'Foodie February' can end in disaster

Don't let 'Foodie February' end in disaster, say Cheshire Fire Service.

It's all about food in February with romantic meals for Valentine's Day (14th February), flipping pancakes for Shrove Tuesday (17th February), the nation's favourite chips for National Chip Week (16th -22nd February), as well as Chinese New Year on February 19th.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging everyone to think safety first when cooking this month to ensure your culinary delights don't turn into a disaster.

Service Delivery Manager for Cheshire East, Lee Shears said: "This month is guaranteed to have many people in the kitchen cooking with family and friends and we want to make sure you remember it for the right reasons. Just a moment's distraction could turn your kitchen fun into tragedy but following a few simple precautions can greatly reduce the risks.

"I would urge people to first and foremost make sure they have a working smoke alarm installed as this can give you and your loved ones vital time to escape to safety if a fire does break out."

How to cook safely

• Avoid leaving children in the kitchen alone when cooking on the hob. Keep matches and saucepan handles out of their reach to keep them safe.
• Make sure saucepan handles don't stick out- so they don't get knocked off the stove.
• Take care if you're wearing loose clothing- they can easily catch fire.
• Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob.
• Double check the cooker is off when you've finished cooking.
• Take care if you need to leave the kitchen whilst cooking, take pans off the heat or turn them down to avoid risk.
• Take care with electrics
• Keep electrics (leads and appliances) away from water.
• Check toasters are clean and placed away from curtains and kitchen rolls.
• Keep the oven, hob and grill clean and in good working order. A build up of fat and grease can ignite a fire.
• Deep fat frying
• Take care when cooking with hot oil- it sets alight easily.
• Make sure food is dry before putting it in hot oil so it doesn't splash.
• 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.

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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