House saved from serious fire by alert neighbour

AT 15:23 today (20/08), the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to a report of a smoke alarm going off and a smell of smoke at Horton Close, Thame. The call had been made by a neighbour who, when hearing the alarm, went to make sure it was not a false alarm and smelling the smoke, she called 999.

Smoke Alarm Alerts Neighbour to Kitchen Fire

Crews from Thame and Watlington Fire Station were quickly on the scene where they found an unattended frying pan that had been left on an electric hob. Firefighters dealt with the situation swiftly before ventilating the property.

CM Steve Lockwood from Thame, said:  “The occupant was very fortunate that his smoke alarm alerted his neighbor. This situation could have been far more serious had a working smoke alarm not been installed.”

He went on: “I would also use this opportunity to remind everyone to take care whilst cooking and to ensure everything is switched off when finished.”

More tips on fire safety in the kitchen include:

• Consider using a thermostatically controlled deep fat fryer rather than a frying pan to cook your food.

• Never leave your cooking unattended. Even if the phone or doorbell rings.

If you do have a chip pan fire or a fire involving oil:

• call the Fire and Rescue Service on 999 immediately

• don’t take risks

• have a clear escape route

• never move the pan

• only turn off the heat (if it’s safe to do so)

• never use water on chip pan fires, as this will cause the oil to boil over and burn you.