People in Eden can help make their homes safer by helping themselves to a free deep fat fryer during Cumbria County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service and Eden Hosing Association’s "chip pan amnesty".
Six amnesties are planned as follows (2-4pm);
Saturday 1st October : Kirkby Thore
Saturday 8th October : Kirkby Stephen
Sunday 9th October : Nenthead
Saturday 15th October : Brough
Sunday 16th October : Tebay
Anyone from the local community can bring along their chip pan and exchange it, free of charge, for a brand new deep fat fryer. Deep fat fryers are much safer to use, and a thermostatic control should ensure that they never catch fire.
Each session will feature a chip-pan fire demonstration with staff from Eden Housing Association, the Fire and Rescue Service, and the Police present.
County Councillor Geoff Hodgson, Cabinet spokesman for the fire and Rescue Service says:
"Everyone at Cumbria County Council is fully committed to improving people's safety across the county.
Chip pans are a cause of many domestic fires and this scheme is a positive step to eliminating the risk they present and creating safer homes in Cumbria. I would encourage everyone to come along to one of the amnesties and take advantage of this offer."
Bernard Dolan, Cumbria’s Chief Fire Offcier says:
"Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service are constantly seeking to develop its programme of prevention and community safety initiatives. I am delighted the Fire and Rescue Service are working in partnership with Eden Housing Association to further that aim."
Funding has been received through the County Council’s Local Committee for Eden, Eden Housing Participation Forum and Eden Housing Association. Penrith Co-op is supporting the initiative by providing deep-fat fryers at a reduced cost.