Keep electrical leads and appliances away from water
Don't overload sockets - only use one plug in each socket
Check the toaster is clean and kept away from curtains and kitchen rolls
Turn off electrical appliances when they are not being used and service them regularly
If you have to use more than one plug per socket, use a fused adaptor and keep the total output to no more than 13 amps
Chip Pans
The kitchen is the most common place in the home for a house fire to start. Follow our simple advice to make sure you stay safe.
Swap your chip pan for an electric deep fat fryer
Chip pans catch fire easily. An electric deep fat fryer is much safer. When deep frying, dry food before you put it in oil. Never fill a pan more than one-third full of oil. If the oil starts to smoke, it's too hot so turn off the heat and leave it to cool.
If you must use a deep frying pan:
Never deep fry with fat or oil when you've been drinking alcohol
Never leave cooking unattended - even for a few seconds
Turn the pan handle to the side so the fat or oil doesn't get spilled by accident
If a deep frying pan catches fire:
Don’t try to move the pan
Never throw water over the pan
Call the Fire and Rescue Service, even if you think you've put the fire out
If you can, turn off the heat - but don't take risks
Put a damp towel over the pan to smother the flames
Leave the room closing the door behind you to avoid smoke inhalation
Cookers and microwaves
Keep electrical leads, tea towels and cloths away from your cooker
Keep your oven, hob and grill clean. A build up of fat and grease can easily catch fire
Never put a sponge or dishcloth in the microwave to sterilise it - it could catch fire
Don't put anything metallic such a cutlery or tin cans inside the microwave
Take care if you are wearing loose clothing - this can easily catch fire