Cooking Oil Fires Are a Killer

Cooking fires and particularly Chip pan fires are the UK’s biggest cause of fire related injuries in the home with a conservative estimate, based on statistics recorded by the Fire Services, of 12000 chip pan fires each year resulting in close to 5000 injuries and around 50 deaths not to mention the huge financial costs in fire damage and repairs.

Top Ten Tips to avoid chip pan fires

• Only use a proper deep Chip pan with a removable wire basket
• Don’t fill the pan more than a third full of oil/fat
• Drain and Dry the chips before putting them in the pan.
• Don’t overfill the pan with chips
• If you are feeding the five thousand fry in batches and keep warm in a low oven. (Not you the chips)
• To test the temperature of the oil drop in a small cube of bread; if it crisps up in 5 seconds or so and floats, the oil is hot enough.
• If the pan is giving off smoke it is too hot. Turn the heat off and let it cool down so it passes the bread test. Cooking oils will self ignite between 280-360⁰C which will spell big trouble.
• If you leave the pan unattended turn the heat off but best to stay with it unless you like your chips soggy.
• Don’t come in from the pub half soaked and have a fry up. You may easily nod off, get distracted by a repeat of Top Gear or forget in your stupor. Most serious chip pan fires happen after 9p.m.
• Or forget all the above and buy a thermostatically controlled deep fat fryer

Which fire extinguisher to use in the event of a cooking oil fire?

A Fire Blanket is for Life.

A fire blanket should be a must have for all householders and many businesses as they provide the ultimate fast response to extinguish small fires particularly chip pan and grill fires in the kitchen but also fires in waste paper bins and on workbenches. A fire blanket can also be used as a protective fire resistant body wrap to protect you in a fire related evacuation. They are inexpensive and very efficient.

How do fire blankets work

In order for a fire to burn heat, fuel and oxygen must be present. This is known as the fire Triangle. If you remove any one element of the Triangle the fire will extinguish. A fire blanket that is placed over or around a burning object cuts off the oxygen supply to the fire, thereby extinguishing it. Fire blankets for domestic use are usually made of fiberglass or fire retardant wool and are folded into a quick-release container for ease of storage. Larger blankets are often wall mounted in quick-release pods so that they can be deployed in seconds.

The safest way to use a fire blanket

• Pull the blanket from its container and unfold so that it is completely opened
• Put on fire-resistant gloves, if available. Oven gloves are fine for the job
• Pinch the top corners of the blanket or wrap your hands in the top edge of the blanket on the opposite side to the fire to protect your hands from the heat and flames
• Approach the fire using the Blanket as a shield and completely cover the flames with the fire blanket by throwing the blanket on top
• If safe to do so press the outer edges down into close contact with the surrounding surfaces to reduce airflow to the fire
• Leave the blanket in place for at least 20 minutes even if you think the fire is extinguished to allow the fuel to cool down completely. Hot oil and other combustibles can reignite spontaneously if above their ignition temperature

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