The aftermath of a kitchen fire.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) community safety and research chief superintendent Mick Morris has reminded residents to “keep looking when cooking” to avoid kitchen catastrophes.
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“Kitchen fires account for 45 per cent of all residential fires and 34 per cent of injuries in NSW.
“Flames or heat sources being left unattended are the most common cause contributing to kitchen fires.
“It can take just three minutes for a fire to take hold, but only seconds to prevent one,” he said.
Fire and Rescue NSW recommended the following safety list for cooking in the home:
- Never leave cooking unattended, If you leave the kitchen
- Turn off the stove and don’t put anything metallic in the microwave
- Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
- Don’t cook under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Turn pot handles inwards to avoid being knocked or grabbed by children
- Keep your oven and rangehood clean (excess grease and fat can ignite in a fire)
- If your pan catches fire, don’t throw water on it- get out, stay out and call Triple Zero.
The service attends to approximately 4,500 residential fires in NSW annually, with 60 pent occurring between May and September.
