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Kitchen Safety

Celebrate National Chip Week safely...

14 Feb 2010

Reduce the chance of having a fire in your home, by throwing away your chip pan during National Chip Week [15 - 21 February 2010].

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging people not to use traditional chip pans as they can cause fatal fires. There are other options for cooking chips, which will keep you and your family safer.

Alternative ways to enjoy chips:

• Microwave them. It's quick, easy and they taste just as good.
• Choose oven chips instead. Not only are they safer to cook but they're lower in fat too.
• Instead of cooking chips at home, why not buy a portion of chips from the local chip shop?
• Replace your old style chip pan for a thermostatically controlled deep fat fryer; they are safer to use and look better in the kitchen!

Assistant Chief Officer Steve Hamm, Head of Community Safety at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said:

“National Chip Week celebrates a national favourite food, one which is especially popular in the current cold weather. But chip pan fires cause severe injuries and the combination of water and oil can be lethal. Even a small cup of water on a chip pan fire will cause a dangerous explosion of hot oil and the fire will spread right across the room.

“General home fire safety precautions should always be followed, such as ensuring smoke alarms and fire extinguishers are fitted and tested. Please opt for an alternative to chip pans, such as microwaving, using oven chips or buying a portion from the local fish and chip shop. Oil and fat fires are not minor - they can and do injure and kill.

“In the event that a pan does catch fire, don't take any risks. Turn off the heat only if it’s safe to do so. Remember never to throw water over it and never tackle a fire yourself. My advice is to get out, stay out and call 999.”

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If you must cook chips in a traditional chip pan, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service offers the following fire safety tips - not just during National Chip Week but all year round:

• Don't cook after drinking alcohol.
• Don't throw water on a chip pan fire.
• In the event of a fire, have an escape route in place.
• Get a 10-year battery smoke alarm and test it regularly.
• Don't overfill a chip pan with oil - never fill it more than one-third full.
• Don't take risks by tackling a fire. Get out, stay out and dial 999.

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