Firefighters were called to reports of a fire in Heelands yesterday (30/9) after a person put a plastic-handled knife in the oven.
The incident happened at a flat in Flintergill Court with the fire causing light smoke-logging.
One appliance and crew from Newport Pagnell and one from West Ashland attended the scene where firefighters used a fan and gave advice to the person involved.
And now residents are being reminded of the importance of fire safety.
Cooking appliances were identified as the cause of 48 percent of all accidental house fires in 2018/19, says Bucks Fire, with cooking being the cause of 51 percent of all non-fatal fire injuries.
"Many fires could be avoided if safe storage and cooking practices are followed in the kitchen," the local fire authority says on their website.
It is recommended that you do not put any kind of plastic in the oven due to the likelihood of it melting at even the lowest of oven temperatures. Plastic should not be used in microwave ovens either unless it states that it is microwave/oven safe.
Plastic in ovens can be a fire hazard, as shown above, and may also potentially emit unpleasant chemicals.
Aside from burning plastic, there are plenty of fire hazards in the kitchen and Bucks Fire has shared what not to do:
- Do not leave cooking unattended
- Do not store items on the hob even when it is not being used for cooking
- Do not cook whilst wearing loose items of clothing such as scarves or trailing sleeves as they could catch fire
- Do not leave children or vulnerable adults alone in the kitchen
- Do not use matches or lighters to light gas cookers – spark devices are safer
- Do not put anything that is made of metal or is metallic in to a microwave
- Do not use appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers or dishwashers overnight
- Do not try to cook while under the influence of medication, drugs or alcohol
Find out more about kitchen safety here.
