Keep an eye on your cooking and test your smoke alarm, urges fire service

Make sure your smoke alarm works

Firefighters are calling on people to keep on eye on their cooking and make sure their smoke alarms are working following two kitchen fires on Thursday night (21 February).

Crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were called to the fires, which saw one person treated for the effects of smoke inhalation and another given first aid by a specialist trauma technician.

One occupier had fallen asleep after putting a pan on the stove, and the other had left a pan unattended.

Paul Etches, Head of Prevention at GMFRS, said: “These incidents highlight how important it is to keep an eye on your cooking at all times and to make sure your smoke alarm works.

“It only takes a second for a fire to start and if left unattended the consequences could be severe.

“Never leave your cooking unattended and make sure you have a working smoke alarm on each level of your home.”

If your pan catches fire when cooking:

• Don’t panic and don’t take risks
• Don’t move the pan
• If it’s safe to do so, turn off the heat – but never lean over the pan to do so
• Leave the kitchen, close the door behind you, get everyone out and don’t go back inside
• Call 999

For more information on cooking safety visit the GMFRS website: 

• manchesterfire.gov.uk/staying-safe/what-we-do/fire-safety-at-home/safety-in-the-kitchen/