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Preventing chip pan and other cooking fires

The kitchen is the most common part of the home for domestic fires to start. There are some simple steps you can follow to prevent a fire breaking out in your kitchen.

Kitchen fire safety

  • when cooking, take care if you're wearing loose clothing as it can easily catch fire
  • keep electrical leads, tea-towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob
  • never leave children alone in the kitchen
  • keep matches, lighters and saucepan handles where children can't reach them and fit a safety catch on your oven door
  • keep the oven, hob, toaster and grill clean - a build-up of fat, crumbs or grease can easily catch fire
  • don't use matches or lighters to light gas cookers - spark devices, which you can buy from hardware stores are safer
  • don't leave pans on the hob when you're not around - take them off the heat if you have to leave the kitchen
  • angle saucepan handles so they don't stick out from the hob or over a naked flame
  • don't put anything that is made of metal or is metallic inside the microwave
  • when you have finished cooking, make sure you switch off the oven and hob

Deep-fat fryer safety

  • if you regularly deep-fry, consider buying an electric deep-fat fryer - they have thermostats fitted so they can't overheat and are safer to use
  • dry food before putting it into hot oil to prevent the oil from splashing and burning you
  • if you don't have an electric deep-fat fryer and are using an ordinary pan, never fill it more than one-third full
  • if the oil starts to smoke, it's too hot - turn the heat off and leave it to cool

If a pan catches fire

  • don't take risks - get out and call the fire service
  • turn off the heat if it is safe - do not move the pan
  • don't throw water over the pan or use a fire extinguisher as this will create a fire ball

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