Safety warning about dangers of cooking after four house fires in one day

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service say around half of accidental fires in the home start because of something to do with cooking.

The warning comes after firefighters attended four cooking-related incidents on Thursday.

They were called to Lord Street in Leigh at 6.10pm, where there was a fire involving a pan of food and one person was taken to hospital by ambulance, suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

In other incidents, two people were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation after a chip pan fire in Salford; one person was taken to hospital after a fire involving a pan of food in Manchester; and someone was treated for the effects of smoke inhalation after a pan of food caught fire in Middleton.

In each case, crews used special ventilation equipment to clear smoke from the homes.

Fire chiefs are reminding people never to leave cooking unattended and to be particularly careful with hot oil and chip pans.

Head of prevention, area manager Paul Duggan, said: “It is unusual to have a spate of fires like this, all starting in the kitchen and all causing a lot of distress and smoke damage.

“Luckily no-one was seriously injured but the effects of smoke inhalation are very unpleasant.

“If you are cooking and have to leave the kitchen for whatever reason, simply turn off your hob or oven while you’re out so you prevent the risk of something smoking, burning or catching fire.”

If your pan catches fire:

Don't panic and don't take risks

Don't move the pan

Never throw water or use a water fire extinguisher on a hot fat fire

If it's safe to do so - turn off the heat, but never lean over the pan to reach the controls

Leave the kitchen, close the door behind you, tell everyone else in the home to get out and don't go back inside for any reason

Call 999