Firefighters urge people to Cook With Care

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) have launched a brand campaign to educate and inform residents about the dangers in their kitchens.

During 2023, one third of the kitchen fires attended by DWFRS were in the homes of people aged over 65 and living alone. 

Common causes of these fires were cooking being left unattended, items being left on hot cooker hobs such as tea towels and kitchen appliances and metal objects placed in microwaves.

The ’Cook with Care’ campaign is designed to reduce this figure, with a focus on preventing cooking-related incidents and making residents safer in their homes.

‘Cook with Care’ has four key themes to help reduce kitchen fires:

- Prepare - Before you start cooking, create a clear space to prepare your meals safely. Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob, and take care if you’re wearing loose clothing.

- Prevent - Never put anything other than pots and pans on your cooker hob; even after you’ve finished cooking, the hob will remain hot for some time.Never put anything metal into the microwave. Saucepan handles left sticking out create a danger; there’s a risk they could be caught, leading to the pans being knocked off the hob.

- Focus - Don’t leave cooking unattended. Avoid cooking if you are tired, have been drinking alcohol or are taking medication that leaves you drowsy.

- Stay Safe - Keep the oven, hob and grill clean as a build-up of fat or grease can catch fire when hot. Switch off the oven and/or hob when you have finished cooking and take pans off the heat.

Area Manager Marc House, Head of Prevention & Protection, said: “It’s vital that we do all we can to protect our communities, especially those people who are perhaps more vulnerable because of their age or where they live. 

"By highlighting some of the potential dangers in the kitchen, we hope to encourage safer cooking behaviours amongst those most at risk.”

“It’s all too easy to get into the habit of throwing a tea towel on any surface, or getting distracted while cooking. 

"The campaign is designed to encourage everyone to take a few moments to look at ways of making the kitchen a safer place to be – both for them and for their loved ones.”

Over the coming weeks, firefighters will be delivering leaflets and posters with the campaign’s key messages to community locations such as pharmacies, GP surgeries and post offices. 

Advertising and social media will also encourage families to consider signing up their relatives, who may need more support at home, for a Safe & Well visit. 

DWFRS will also be working with partners and housing providers to reach the most vulnerable residents in Dorset & Wiltshire and educate them on safer cooking behaviours.

There is more information on the DWFRS website about safety in the home at www.dwfire.org.uk/safety-at-home and anyone with an older friend or relative who lives alone is asked to share this advice with them.

Anybody concerned for a person's safety can contact the DWFRS Safe & Well team by calling call 0800 038 2323 or visiting www.dwfire.org.uk/safe-and-well-visits