NEWS STORY: FEBRUARY 2008

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Northwards in the news

Is a chip pan worth risking your life for?

picture of chip pan fire

That's the question Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is asking at the start of National Chip Week (11 to 17 February).

Last year 418 Greater Manchester fires were caused by a chip pan. Here in north Manchester we had more incidents than any other area.

The fire service has stopped advising people how to tackle these fires themselves; their advice is get out, before it's too late and dial 999.

They also recommend that people get rid of their old fashioned chip pans and replace them with deep fat fryers which are much safer to use; or better still use oven chips, which are much healthier!

Tragic consequences

Chief Fire Officer Barry Dixon said "Most people's excuse for having a chip pan is that the chips taste better. I would question whether they taste good enough to die for? It's all too easy for someone to put a chip pan on, get distracted or fall asleep - with sometimes tragic consequences".

The fire service advice is:

  • only cook chips in a deep fat fryer with a thermostatic control; or use oven chips instead.
  • never leave cooking unattended.
  • never cook food after returning home from a night out at the pub, or when you have had a drink.
  • if you are unfortunate enough to have a fire, switch the heat off if safe to do so, close the door on the fire, make sure everyone in the house is aware of the fire, get out, dial 999 and stay out until the fire service say it is safe to go back in. Always remember Get out, Stay out, Call us out!
  • make sure you have at least one working smoke alarm on each floor-level in your home.
  • for a free fire safety check call 0800 555 815.

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