Friday 9 February 2007 - 16.00hrs
Avon Fire & Rescue Service is urging people to take care
when cooking their chips.
As part of National Chip Week, safety demonstrations are being
held by the service across the area, with the fire safety team also
offering advice on cooking safely.
Between February 2006 and January 2007 there were 171 accidental
cooking related fires in homes across the area, involving either
oil or fat.
In some cases chip pans have been left unattended, in others
filled with too much oil or allowing the oil to overheat. Deep fat
fryers, with their own internal thermostat, provide a much safer
alternative.
Throughout National Chip Week Avon Fire & Rescue Service
will be holding a chip pan amnesty, with members of the public
urged to hand in their old chip pans. Once a free Home Fire Safety
Visit has been booked and carried out a brand new deep fat fryer
will be handed over.
AF&RS would urge people to do the following when cooking
chips:
- Never fill a pan more than one-third full of oil or fat.
- Never leave the pan unattended.
- Never put food in a chip pan if the oil begins to smoke. Turn
off the oil and leave it to cool.
- Drinking alcohol and cooking is a recipe for
disaster.
If a pan does catch fire:
- Do not move it.
- Turn off the heat, if it is safe to do so.
- Never throw water on it, this will only make it worse.
- Close the kitchen door on your way out and call 999. Ask for
the fire and rescue service.
Community Safety Office Kevin Keeler, from AF&RS, said:
"Cooking chips in open pans is very dangerous if they are not used
safely. They can cause fires which are very fierce, very smoky,
difficult to put out and likely to re-ignite. We would urge
everyone to make sure they enjoy National Chip Week by following
our safety tips."
Note to editors
Safety demonstrations are being held in the following
locations:
Monday 12 February, Aller Parade, Oldmixon Estate,
Weston-super-Mare, 10am-12pm
Tuesday 13 February, Healthy Living Centre, Bournville Estate,
Weston-super-Mare, 10am-12pm
Wednesday 14 February, Nightjar pub, Mead Vale Estate,
Weston-super-Mare, 10am-12pm
Thursday 15 February, Portishead Fire Station, 10am-12pm
Friday 16 February, Tesco, Clevedon, 10am-12pm
Friday 16 February, Nailsea Shopping Centre, 2pm-4pm
Friday 09 February, Bath University, 11.30am-1.30pm
Monday 12 February, Radco, Radstock, 10am-2.30pm
Wednesday 14 February, City of Bath College, 10am-2.30pm
Friday 16 February, Keynsham Fire Station, 10am-2.30pm
Monday 12 February, Staple Hill Market Square, 9am- 3pm
Tuesday 13 February, Lidl, Yate, 9am-3pm
Wednesday 15 February, Asda, Patchway, 9am-3pm
If you have any queries or would like to attend one of the
demonstrations taking place please call the press office on 0117
926 2061 Ext 216 or 07977 467634.
For more information on Avon Fire & Rescue please visit:
www.avonfire.gov.uk