Residents are being urged to stay safe when cooking pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service are reminding people to never leave pans unattended, always supervise children in the kitchen and to keep the oven, hob and grill clean to avoid fires.

The service have also compiled a list of safety tips and advice for people to consider when preparing pancakes.

Kitchen safety

The kitchen can be one of the most hazardous places in the home, so follow these tips:

  • Keep pans out of the reach of children.
  • Always supervise children in the kitchen.
  • Keep soft items such as tea towels and cloths away from the hob.
  • Keep the oven, hob and grill clean. A build up of fat and grease can easily catch fire. Clean the grill after you have used it!
  • Never leave cooking unattended! A moment’s distraction could be all it takes for a pan or grill to catch fire.
  • Double check the oven/hob is off when you have finished cooking.
  • Take care if you’re wearing loose clothing – they can easily catch fire.
  • Avoid cooking if you are tired, have been drinking alcohol or taking medication that might make you drowsy.

If a pan does catch fire…

  • Do not tackle the fire yourself.
  • Do not move the pan. Turn off the heat if it is safe to do so, but never lean over the pan to reach the cooker controls.
  • Never throw water onto the fire.
  • Leave the room, close the door and call the Fire Service on 999.

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