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15/02/2016
Over 80 Fires Caused By Chip Pans In 2015
Chip pans were the cause to over 80 fires in in Northern Ireland last year.
A total of 81 fires were accidentally caused in NI homes, slightly less than 92 caused in 2014.
The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) is using this year's National Chip Week, 15 – 21 February, to warn people of the dangers of using traditional chip pans.
NIFRS Assistant Chief Fire Officer Alan Walmsley said: "National Chip Week – designed to celebrate chips as one of our culinary favourites, provides an ideal opportunity for us to remind people to take extra care when cooking with pans, especially ones containing hot oil. Chip pans are well known for being a fire risk, but simply changing the way you cook can prevent fire. Our advice is that you stop using a traditional chip pan and invest in an electric temperature controlled deep fat fryer or cook your chips in the oven.
"If it isn't possible to give up using a chip pan in your home be sure to carefully follow our all year round fire safety advice to reduce fire hazards and cook safely. Remember – never fill a pan more than one third full of fat or oil; never leave the pan unattended when the heat is switched on and never put the food in the pan if the oil begins to give off smoke, just turn off the heat and leave the oil to cool, otherwise it could catch fire. Do not cook if under the influence of alcohol and remember to keep your grill pan clean."
"Chips will be on the menu in a lot of homes next week, but remember that even the smallest distraction, like answering the phone when using chip pans to cook, can lead to a fire in a matter of moments so the best advice is to ensure you maintain your concentration and don’t leave pans on the heat unattended."
(CD/LM)
A total of 81 fires were accidentally caused in NI homes, slightly less than 92 caused in 2014.
The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) is using this year's National Chip Week, 15 – 21 February, to warn people of the dangers of using traditional chip pans.
NIFRS Assistant Chief Fire Officer Alan Walmsley said: "National Chip Week – designed to celebrate chips as one of our culinary favourites, provides an ideal opportunity for us to remind people to take extra care when cooking with pans, especially ones containing hot oil. Chip pans are well known for being a fire risk, but simply changing the way you cook can prevent fire. Our advice is that you stop using a traditional chip pan and invest in an electric temperature controlled deep fat fryer or cook your chips in the oven.
"If it isn't possible to give up using a chip pan in your home be sure to carefully follow our all year round fire safety advice to reduce fire hazards and cook safely. Remember – never fill a pan more than one third full of fat or oil; never leave the pan unattended when the heat is switched on and never put the food in the pan if the oil begins to give off smoke, just turn off the heat and leave the oil to cool, otherwise it could catch fire. Do not cook if under the influence of alcohol and remember to keep your grill pan clean."
"Chips will be on the menu in a lot of homes next week, but remember that even the smallest distraction, like answering the phone when using chip pans to cook, can lead to a fire in a matter of moments so the best advice is to ensure you maintain your concentration and don’t leave pans on the heat unattended."
(CD/LM)
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