Dorset firefighters issue cooking safety advice
A third of kitchen fires attended by DWFRS in 2023 were at homes of over 65s
People living in Dorset are being urged to take care in the kitchen by the fire service as they warn us of the dangers when cooking.
Their Cook with Care campaign is a result of many of the fires attended by the service in 2023 being kitchen fires - with a third of those being in the homes of people over the age of 65.
The campaign aims to reduce that number by making everyone aware of the risks when cooking.
Common causes of kitchen fires include cooking being left unattended, items being left on hot cooker hobs such as tea towels and kitchen appliances and metal objects placed in microwaves.
‘Cook with Care’ has four key themes to help reduce kitchen fires:
• Prepare - Before you start cooking, create a clear space to prepare your meals safely. Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob, and take care if you’re wearing loose clothing.
• Prevent - Never put anything other than pots and pans on your cooker hob; even after you’ve finished cooking, the hob will remain hot for some time. Never put anything metal into the microwave. Saucepan handles left sticking out create a danger; there’s a risk they could be caught, leading to the pans being knocked off the hob.
• Focus - Don’t leave cooking unattended. Avoid cooking if you are tired, have been drinking alcohol or are taking medication that leaves you drowsy.
• Stay Safe - Keep the oven, hob and grill clean as a build-up of fat or grease can catch fire when hot. Switch off the oven and/or hob when you have finished cooking and take pans off the heat.
Area Manager Marc House, Head of Prevention & Protection, said: “It’s vital that we do all we can to protect our communities, especially those people who are perhaps more vulnerable because of their age or where they live. By highlighting some of the potential dangers in the kitchen, we hope to encourage safer cooking behaviours amongst those most at risk.”
He added: “It’s all too easy to get into the habit of throwing a tea towel on any surface, or getting distracted while cooking. The campaign is designed to encourage everyone to take a few moments to look at ways of making the kitchen a safer place to be – both for them and for their loved ones.”
Firefighters will be delivering leaflets and posts with the key messages of the campaign to locations in the community, including pharmacies, GP surgeries and post offices.