Kent Fire reminder for kitchen safety

Reading the instructions (especially for kitchen safety) could save your life and your home

More than half of the accidental fires in the home start in the kitchen.

To help prevent a fire in our kitchen, always fully read and comply with manufacturers’ instructions, keep kitchen appliances in good working order and follow the advice below.

Cookers

• Keep ovens, hobs and grills clean – a build up of fat and foodstuffs can start a fire
• Do not store any items on hobs, in ovens or grills
• Do not dry items in ovens or grills
• Do not fill pans more than a third full of oil

Most weeks we attend fires caused by the storing of paper, tea towels and other items on top of hobs.

Microwaves

• Overheating can cause fire, always ensure the correct timing is used
• Only heat appropriate items
• Do not store items on top of the microwave

We regularly go to fires because items have been overheated in microwaves.

Toasters

• Ensure the toaster is well away from curtains
• Empty the crumb tray regularly

Washing machines

• Ensure washing machines are not left in standby mode for long periods after use

Tumble dryers

• Avoid a flammable fluff build-up by cleaning filters on a regular basis
• Only dry appropriate and correctly sized items as described in the manufacturers’ instructions (quilts and sleeping bags are sometimes not recommended in domestic tumble dryers)

We regularly see fires because tumble dryer filters are not cleaned.

Fridges and freezers

• Ensure regular defrosting to ensure the motor is not overworking and overheating
• Always allow air to flow around fridges and freezers – at least 2cm is recommended by most manufacturers

Dishwashers

• Don’t overload your dishwasher – this can lead to overheating and leaks
• Make sure you follow manufacturer’s instructions about positioning and ventilation of the machine
• Clean filters and other user serviceable parts to prevent blockages and wear
• Use recommended tablets and powders to prolong the life of your dishwasher
• Don’t leave your dishwasher running overnight or while you’re out of the house
• Dishwashers draw a lot of electricity, make sure yours has a dedicated power socket to help prevent overloading – try our socket overload calculator to see how this can affect you.
• View or download this information as a PDF file.

Register you appliance and recall safety advice

To find out more helpful information please check out the Kent Fire and Rescue website.

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