Saved by a smoke alarm
| Published: 19th January 2008 16:45 |
Male Rescued by Fire Service
Once again a tragedy has been averted thanks to a smoke alarm.
Steven Branch a young man in his 20s was visiting his mother in Pynes Lane, Bideford early on Tuesday evening, when he heard a smoke alarm sounding. Smelling smoke in the hall and stairway of the flats he immediately alerted the fire service and all the other residents of the flats.
On arrival of the fire service they rescued a man who had fallen asleep after putting a chip pan onto heat.
The man was treated for smoke inhalation by the ambulance service.
Group Commander Neil Blackburn who also attended the scene said "This man was very lucky indeed - the smoke alarm did not wake him and it is entirely due to the actions of Mr Branch that we were not faced with a tragedy. In alerting the fire service and warning the occupants of the flats he did all the right things and we were able to arrive in time for Watch Commander Dave Slade to rescue the occupant of the affected flat.
"We would remind everyone to take great care when using chip pans and would ideally like to see every one using electric deep fat fryers; these have thermostats fitted so they can't overheat and are safer to use.
"However if you must continue to use your old chip pan then following these few tips will ensure that you remain safe".
- Food should be dried before being put into hot oil to prevent the oil from splashing and burning the user.
- A chip pan should never be filled to more than one-third full of oil.
- If the oil starts to smoke, it's too hot and the heat should be turned off and left to cool.
- Never leave a chip pan unattended
If you have a Chip Pan fire - call 999 immediately - get out and stay out!
· Don't take any risks - get everyone out of your home and call the Fire and Rescue Service.
· Don't move the pan and never throw water over it.
· Turn off the heat under the pan (if it's safe to do so) and allow it to cool completely.
Chip pan fires cause one fifth of all accidental dwelling fires attended by the Fire and Rescue Service in the UK each year. Nearly 20 people are killed or injured every day in accidental fires that start in their kitchen, the most common of these caused by deep fat frying.
ALWAYS CALL THE FIRE SERVICE (no matter how small or insignificant you think the incident is - far better to be safe then sorry!)
Remember - NEVER LEAVE A CHIP PAN UNATTENDED
