Safer cooking campaign

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is taking its Dirty Grills Kill campaign to the streets of Cheshire as part of cooking safety month in February.

Last year, over half of all accidental fires in the home started in the kitchen so the Service is using the month as an ideal opportunity to remind people of the vital safety tips to reduce the risk of fire.

The Kitchen Safety Vehicle will be in a number of locations over the next few weeks where firefighters and staff will be talking to the public and showing them some of the devastating consequences of cooking fires.

People are encouraged to come along to the events where as well as the lifesaving safety advice and information, they will also be able to pick up some goodies as part of the campaign.

The month ahead has a number of cooking related dates with Valentine's Day, Shrove Tuesday and National Chip Week and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is keen to ensure they don't end in disaster.

Head of Prevention and Protection Keith Brooks said: "Kitchen fires are still our biggest cause of accidental fires in the home and are often as a result of cookers or grills being left unattended.

"We all lead busy lives and it is so easy to get distracted, which is why it is so important for us to push campaigns like this and keep reminding people about our safety advice. We are committed to doing all we can to continue to reduce the number of fires in Cheshire and talking to people face to face is always a great way to get people engaged and thinking, and more importantly acting on the information we give them."

The Kitchen Safety Vehicle, firefighters and staff from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service will be in the following nearby location during February:

Monday 16 February, 10:00-14:00, Crewe Market Square.

Here are some top tips to avoid a fire in your kitchen:

• Always clean the grill pan after using it, to avoid a build-up of fat and oil in your grill pan
• Never leave cooking unattended
• Watch out if you are wearing loose clothing
• Make sure that you have a working smoke alarm
• Keep tea towels and cloths away from grills and hobs
• Don't start cooking if you have had alcohol or are really tired
• If a grill pan catches fire, do not take risks- get everyone out of your home and call 999

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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