Over the last few years, the majority of property fires attended by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service started in the kitchen. 99% of these fires were accidental and could have been prevented.

Help keep yourself and your loved ones stay fire safe in the kitchen by following some of our cooking fire safety advice below.

If a fire occurs in the kitchen – remember, get out, stay out and call 999 immediately.

Don’t leave cooking unattended

Never leave cooking unattended – it only takes a few seconds for a fire to start.

• Avoid common distractions while cooking, such as using your smartphone, entertaining guests or multitasking with other chores.
• If you need to leave the room, even for a short time, take your food off the heat. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Angle saucepan handles so they don't stick out from the hob or over a naked flame.
• Never leave children alone in the kitchen and keep matches, lighters and saucepan handles out of their reach. We would also recommend fitting a safety catch on the oven door.
• Always check that your hob or oven is fully switched off when you’ve finished cooking.

Keep your oven and hobs clean

A clean cooker is a safe cooker!

• Regularly clean your oven, hobs and other appliances as build-up of fat, crumbs or grease can easily catch fire - this applies to your grill, toaster, air fryer and any other kitchen gadgets you use.

Keep flammable materials away from the cooker

A cluttered kitchen is a dangerous kitchen!

• Always ensure that flammable materials, such as tea towels, cloths, and electrical leads, are kept away from your cooker.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing when cooking, as it can easily catch fire.
• Too much clutter around the hob can also be a fire risk. Clear away food packaging, cookbooks or chopping boards as they’re flammable and can block airflow around your cooker.

Use your air fryer responsibly

Air fryers are a popular addition to modern kitchens, but they need to be used safely, just like any other appliance.

• Always use your air fryer on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from flammable materials, such as curtains or paper towels, and never place it too close to your hob. Residual heat from the hob can damage the air fryer, cause it to overheat or even switch back on.
• Don’t overfill your basket when cooking as this blocks the airflow and can cause overheating.
• Regularly clean the basket drawer to prevent grease build-up, which can ignite.
• Always use the recommended oils, temperatures and cooking times from the manufacturer.
• Never leave an air fryer unattended while in use and always unplug it when you’re done.

Take care when deep-frying food

While the nation has been swept up in the air fryer craze, there are still many people who enjoy deep frying foods at home.

• Dry food before putting it into hot oil, to prevent the oil from splashing and burning you.
• If you regularly deep-fry food, consider buying an electric deep-fat fryer. They have thermostats fitted so they can't overheat and are safer to use.
• If you don't have an electric deep-fat fryer and are using an ordinary pan, never fill it more than one-third full.
• If the oil starts to smoke, it's too hot. Turn the heat off and leave it to cool.
• If the oil catches fire, turn off the hob only if it’s safe to do so. Never throw water onto oil that’s on fire; this will only make the fire spread quicker.

Don’t drink and cook

Many of us enjoy a drink now and then but drinking and cooking don’t mix.

• Alcohol can affect your judgment, coordination, and reaction time, making it more likely you’ll forget food on the stove, use appliances unsafely or be too slow to react to smoke or flames.
• If you intend to have a drink, order a takeaway or prepare a snack before you start drinking.