Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is urging people to take extra precautions in the kitchen to protect themselves from deadly house fires, which have already claimed five lives this year.

FRNSW Community Safety and Research Chief Superintendent Jeremy Fewtrell said kitchen fires accounted for 45 per cent of all residential fires and 34 per cent of injuries in NSW.
“Flames or heat sources being left unattended are the most common cause contributing to kitchen fires,” he said.

“Because of these telling statistics, we have launched this Keep Looking When Cooking campaign to remind people that they must never leave cooking unattended in the kitchen.”

Superintendent Fewtrell said each year, FRNSW firefighters respond to an average of 3,865 house fires.

“On average, about 21 people die in house fires annually and some 500 people are injured,” he said.

“Sadly, already five people have died in 2017 as a result of accidental fires in their homes in NSW.

“It takes just minutes for a household fire to spread but just seconds to avoid these incidents.

“To avoid kitchen fire catastrophes, we urge people to “keep looking when cooking”. It’s a simple way to avoid losing your home or even worse, your loved ones or your own life.”

To help share this important message, FRNSW will be distributing mini-mags through local community hubs. The mini-mags feature five recipes from FRNSW firefighters, spanning multiple cuisines. Additionally, the public are encouraged to share their own recipes on social media, using the hashtag #KeepLookingWhenCooking – FRNSW will be sharing some of the best through their own channels.

This article was originally published by Fire and Rescue NSW.

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