Firefighter warning after kitchen blaze (From Gazette)

Firefighter warning after kitchen blaze

12:12pm Monday 13th February 2012 in Clacton, Frinton & Walton

FIREFIGHTERS have issued a warning after being called to a third Clacton kitchen fire in three weeks.

Two crews were called to the fire at a house in Station Road, just after 9pm on Sunday.

The fire was out by the time firefighters reached the house, but fire chiefs have warned residents about the devastation kitchen fires can cause.

Assistant divisional officer Chris Noakes said: “Our firefighters attend hundreds of fires a year which originate in the kitchen.

“Cooking is one of the major causes of fires in the home and even the smallest kitchen fire can cause devastation to your home and leave loved ones injured or even killed.

“If a fire does break out in a kitchen then you should not attempt to tackle it yourself. Just get yourself and your family out and call the fire service. We can deal with the fire safely and quickly.”

Fire crews were also called to kitchen blazes in Weymouth Close and Porter Way in January.

Safety advice handed out by firefighters includes keeping the cooker clean to prevent a build up of fat and grease, taking care when cooking with hot oil and keeping cloths away from the cooker, as well as having a working smoke alarm fitted and tested regularly.