This week firefighters are urging people to ‘Stand By Your Pan’.

It forms part of National Chip Week.

In West Sussex over half of all accidental house fires are started in the kitchen with the majority caused by unattended or careless cooking.

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service’ tips on frying safely:  

. Most kitchen fires occur when people leave things unattended. Don’t let yourself be distracted while cooking, if you are called away from the cooker take pans off the heat

. Never fill a chip pan (or other deep-fat fryer) more than one-third full of oil

. Consider using a thermostatically controlled deep-fat fryer – this will ensure that the fat does not get too hot

. Fit a smoke alarm on each level of your home and don’t forget that weekly test!

If a pan catches fire:

. Don’t move it – it is likely to be extremely hot

. Turn off the heat if it’s safe to do so – but never lean over a pan to reach the controls

. Don’t use water on a chip pan fire – the water reacts with the oil creating a potentially lethal fireball

. Don’t use a fire extinguisher on a pan of oil – the force of the extinguisher can spread the fire

. If you have put the fire out, leave the pan to cool completely