Issued: 23.07.07

At: 11.00am

For immediate release

FIREFIGHTERS CONCERNED AT THREE KITCHEN FIRES OVER THIS WEEKEND

Over the weekend Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) attended three kitchen fires, two of which were caused by unattended pans and the other by a build-up of grease on the cooker.

Altogether, nine crews from Eastern, Central, Coalville and Loughborough Fire and Rescue Stations attended the incidents in Coalville, Loughborough and the St Mathews area of the City. Two of these incidents required firefighters to enter the properties wearing breathing apparatus to extinguish the fires.

The damage to the three properties was minimal and firefighters were able to stop it from spreading to other areas. The property on Wyggeston Road, Coalville did not have working smoke alarms fitted although crews have now fitted alarms as part of a home fire safety check.

Staff in the Service’s Control Room were able to give advice, over the phone, to the occupants at the Loughborough property to keep them safe until the fire crews arrived. One person was then given first aid at the scene. The people at the other properties were able to escape unharmed.

Tim Herbert, Head of Community Safety for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said:
‘Last year LFRS attended 180 cooking related incidents, 93 of which were due to pans being left unattended whilst cooking. I would like to remind people of the dangers when cooking; always ensure your cooking appliances are clean and free of fat/food build-up, never cook when under the influence of alcohol and don’t leave pans unattended.
Also I would urge people to be responsible and to make sure your home is fitted with working smoke alarms. Those people without a working smoke alarm are four times more likely to die in a fire than those who have one so please make sure you have one. Home fire safety checks can help you to establish potential risks in the home, we are particularly trying to target vulnerable groups in the community for more information about home fire safety checks please call 0116 287 2241.’

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Notes to News Desk

Home safety checks involve crews visiting people at home and offering advice on all aspects on fire safety in the home from electrical safety, the safe disposal of smoking materials, through to the fitting and maintenance of smoke alarms and the developing of a plan to get out in the event of a fire.

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