Firefighters in Carlisle are reminding people they are entitled to free home safety advice, after a spate of pan fires in the city.
From 21-30 March, fire crews attended seven separate kitchen blazes in Carlisle.
Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service provides a home safety visit service where people can get free smoke detectors and advice on how to prevent pan fires and other household accidents. The service is free and can be arranged by calling 0800-358-4777.
Carlisle crews are encouraging people to use the free service and follow these safety tips when cooking:
* Never. Leave pans unattended. Always take them off the heat if you have to leave the room.
* Make sure food in dry before putting it into hot cooking oil
* Keep oven hobs and grills clean, as a build up of fat can easily ignite
* If cooking oil starts to smoke, it’s too hot. Turn off the heat and leave it to cool
* Use a thermostatically controlled electric deep-fat fryer. They can't overheat.
* In the event of a fire, get out of property and call the fire and rescue service
Craig Drinkald, from Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service, said: ''Kitchen fires start when people's attention on what they're doing stops.
''Figures show that nationally, 17 people are killed or injured each day in kitchen fires.
''We are here to provide free, potentially life-saving advice on how to prevent fires in kitchens and elsewhere in the home.
''I would strongly urge people who have not already had a free home safety visit to arrange one today by calling the special freephone number 0800-358-4777.''
ENDS
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337