Happy Pancake Day
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to take extra care when cooking pancakes today.
The warning comes as part of a month-long campaign advising Essex residents how they can reduce the risk of having a cooking-related house fire.
Every year, more accidental fires in the home nationally are caused by cooking than anything else. And what’s more alarming is that cooking-related fires result in the most injuries and the second most fatalities (after smoking products).
While Pancake Day is a British family favourite and tradition for many of us, it also comes with extra fire risks. However the common causes of cooking related fires can be easily avoided by following our safety advice.
So, follow our safety tips and you’ll be sure to enjoy your finest creations (with a generous squeeze of lemon juice or syrup) in no time:
- Your child might be a dab hand at flipping pancakes… but don’t treat them like a top chef and leave them alone with the pan!
- Don’t leave the hob on in between eating your pancakes. It might save you the time to re-heat the pan, but it could quickly develop into a fire if unattended.
- Keep all materials – including tea towels, cloths and kitchen roll - well away from the cooking area. If you’re wearing loose clothing, take extra care.
- If the oil in the pan starts to smoke, it’s too hot and potentially about to ignite. Turn the gas down and avoid burning your meal!
- If you’re not the best cook, your smoke alarm might let you know… but make sure it’s in good working order. Push the button to test it before you start cooking.
- If the pan does ignite, don’t try to pour water on it or take any risks: get out, stay out and call the fire service out.
For more information about keeping safe from fire in your home, visit our website: www.essex-fire.gov.uk/Home_Fire_Safety/
Page last updated 16.02.2021