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Incident Date: 04 February 2012

Less than one week into Cooking Fire Safety Month, the icy weekend saw crews across Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service called to five more cooking fires.

On Saturday night at 9.22pm, a crew from Stretford were called to a sheltered accommodation flat on Lacy Street, where a pan of food had been left unattended.

A 72-year-old man was taken to hospital after fire crews gave him oxygen.  It's believed he had fallen asleep while cooking.

Earlier that night, at 6.19pm one crew from Agecroft and one from Eccles were called to Manchester Road in Swinton where a pan of food had caused a small fire that had filled the house with smoke.  Crews used a fan to ventilate the house.

On Friday evening, at 7.51pm two fire engines were called to Brownley Road in Wythenshawe where a chip pan had been left unattended.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze with a hose reel.  They gave oxygen to an 85 year-old lady who was taken to hospital by ambulance.  A working smoke alarm had alerted the occupier.

At 7.12pm, as temperatures nose dived, a crew from Wigan and one from Hindley were called to Kitt Green Road in Marsh Green where a gas hob left on for heat caused a kitchen fire.

A 78-year-old man suffering from smoke inhalation was given oxygen therapy by fire crews.

At 4.56pm, two crews from Chadderton were called to a block of flats on Seatoller Court in Royton.  A chip pan fire was out when they arrived, leaving the flat heavily smoke logged.  The chip pan had been left unattended, causing the fire.

Crews carried out a Home Safety Check and fitted smoke alarms to the property.

Fire Authority Chairman Councillor David Acton said: " Never leave cooking unattended - even to answer the phone or the door.  Serious fires can start when you are distracted, even for a few seconds."
When cooking fried food, dry it before you put it in the hot oil. If the oil starts to smoke, turn off the heat and leave the pan to cool. Never fill the pan more than one-third full of oil. Never throw water over the pan.

Smoke Alarms…Your First Line of Defence

• Your first line of defence should be a smoke alarm. If there is a fire, a smoke alarm will immediately warn you, giving you and everyone in your home time to escape to safety.
• Fit smoke alarms on the ceiling on each floor in your home - the best places are top of the staircase, stair landing and between living and sleeping areas (do not fit them in the kitchen).
• Do NOT REMOVE THE BATTERIES - if your smoke alarm keeps going off it might be too close to the kitchen.
For more advice about safety in the kitchen, visit  www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/fire_safety_advice/home_fire_safety/safety_in_kitchen.aspx
For a free Home Fire Safety Check called GMFRS on 0800 555 815 or visit www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/fire_safety_advice/home_fire_risk_assessments.aspx

For advice on kitchen safety, have a look at our website.
/fire_safety_advice/home_fire_safety/safety_in_kitchen.aspx

Stay safe in winter! For advice, have a look at http://www.safe4winter.com/ and /fire_safety_advice/seasonal_safety/winter_safety.aspx  

Last update: 06/02/2012 10:32:40