COFFS Harbour’s Fire and Rescue Acting Station Officer Tim George and members of the local unit have been out and about sharing their advice on kitchen fire safety and discussing the bigger issue of “whole-house” safety.
Many people they met were unaware that almost half of all residential fires start in the kitchen.
While this is a sobering statistic, Station Officer George says that with the right precautions, risks can be significantly reduced.
“Unattended cooking is the number one cause,” he said.
“If you’re cooking, stay in the kitchen and keep flammable items well away from the stove.”
As well as never leaving cooking unattended, Fire and Rescue NSW has the following essential kitchen safety tips:
● Keep children away from cooking areas and consider installing stove guards.
● Heat cooking oil slowly in the right-sized saucepan to avoid splatters.
● Turn pot and pan handles inwards to prevent accidental knocks.
● Regularly clean stove grills, range hood filters, and kitchen appliances.
● Install a fire extinguisher and blanket, located at least 1 metre from the stove.
● Use non-slip mats around the stove and sink area.
● If a fire occurs, switch off the appliance, get out, stay out and call 000 (Triple Zero).
You should also check you have a smoke alarm on every level of your house or apartment.
Test that it is working and if it isn’t, contact Fire and Rescue NSW via fire.nsw.gov.au/safetyvisits for a free safety visit.
By Andrea FERRARI
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