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Firefighters warn: Careful in the kitchen

After a spate of recent kitchen fires – nearly five a day - residents are being urged to take care when cooking.

New figures show Fire & Rescue crews in New South Wales attended more than 200 kitchen fires over a period of six weeks.

In just five days in June, fire fighters attended 98 residential kitchen fires.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) reports that a total of 240 fires started in the kitchen last year in the Brisbane region alone.

QFRS Brisbane Region Assistant Commissioner Ian Mitchell said kitchen fires were especially dangerous because they could start very quickly and spread to the rest of the house in just minutes.

“Last year, around 181 house fires were caused by cooking equipment during the winter months, that’s almost two fires starting in the kitchen every day across the State, during this period,” Mr Mitchell said.

Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) found that the majority (more than 90 per cent) of kitchen fires over the six week study were the result of cooking catching alight – both on the stove and in the oven. More than 30 people were injured as a result of these fires, most suffering smoke inhalation.

On 28 May, a man suffered severe burns to his hands after a fire on a stove in a unit at Coogee, and on 11 May another man suffered burns to his hands and his feet after a kitchen fire in a Bellbird house.

On 7 June, a woman in her 30s suffered severe smoke inhalation after a stove fire at a unit at Waitara. The day before, an elderly man was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation after a stove fire at a Kempsey unit.

The following week, an elderly woman suffered burns to both her arms after food caught alight in her oven at West Hoxton.

Fire Commissioner Greg Mullins said almost half of all house fires started in the kitchen.

"We know that most of these happen when cooking is left unattended because residents are juggling other tasks," Commissioner Mullins said.

"If you’re stepping away from the kitchen to help with homework or to watch some television, turn off the stove and microwave and, at all times, keep a watchful eye on your cooking."
Commissioner Mullins urged residents to be fire-ready.

"Make sure you have a working smoke alarm and a practiced home escape plan, and keep a fire extinguisher and fire blanket handy in the kitchen."

Here are some simple tips to follow to avoid a fire in your kitchen:

• Never leave cooking unattended.

• Ensure that cooking appliances are turned off after use.

• Tea towels, oven mitts and other flammable items should be kept well away from stoves and cook tops.

• Install a fire extinguisher and fire blanket in the kitchen and familiarise yourself with their operation.

• Have at least one working smoke alarm on each level of the home and make sure it is working by testing them monthly and changing the batteries at least once a year. The best locations for smoke alarms are in hallways leading from bedrooms and in sleeping areas.

• If a fire does occur, get out, call Triple Zero (000) and stay out.

Fire authorities, in partnership with GIO, are encouraging householders to complete an online Home Fire Safety Audit as part of the winter fire safety campaign at: www.homefiresafetyaudit.com.au