Kitchen fires are cause for concern
Firefighters from Stratford are asking residents to take extra care when cooking after a recent rise in kitchen fires.
In the last year crews from Stratford have attended 27 kitchen fires, a number of which left the homes severely damaged by fire and smoke.
Cooking being left unattended is one of the most common causes of kitchen fires, followed by faulty wiring and smoking materials.
Area Risk Manager, Kevin Gardner said: “It is very easy to become distracted when cooking. If you’re called away from the cooker, then take pans off the heat. It’s the easiest thing in the world to forget about them.
"We attend hundreds of incidents each year, a number of which could have easily been avoided.”
By following a few simple steps, you could reduce the chances of having a fire in your home:
- Don’t cook if you’re affected by alcohol or prescription drugs.
- Don’t put oven gloves or tea towels down on the cooker after you’ve use them.
- Always clean the grill pan after using it.
Portfolio Holder for Community Protection, Councillor Richard Hobbs said: “Fires in the home are a real concern and our aim is to protect the community and make Warwickshire a safer place to live.
"By taking a few minutes to assess the safety in your home, you could dramatically reduce the chances of having a fire in which you could lose more than just a few photos.”