Oil/Fat Fires

This is one of the most common kitchen accidents, by far the biggest culprit in this type of accident is the "chip pan" fire which accounts for one fifth of all domestic fires. To reduce the risk of a fire developing you should follow these tips :-

- never fill a chip pan more than one third full of oil

- never leave a chip pan unattended

- always dry food before putting it in the hot oil (water can make the oil explode)

- test the temperature of the oil by dropping a small amount of food in to it

Should a fire develop then you should do the following :-

- call the fire service straight away

- do not take any risks

- only tackle the fire if it is safe to do so

- make sure you have a clear escape route

- do not try and remove the pan

- turn off the heat - but only if safe to do so

- try to cover the pan with a dampened tea towel

- never use water on chip pans as it will cause a fireball