The talk of the town at the moment is The Great British Bake Off, the BAFTA award-winning television programme on BBC One. What makes this season especially exciting is that ex-contestant, Mat Riley, is a member of the London Fire Brigade!

Although he was sadly voted out a little while before the final this week, the Tunbridge Wells fire-fighter won over the nation’s hearts with his timid sense of humour and admirable baking skills.

The London Fire Brigade are using Mat’s appearance on the show to warn fellow bakers about the dangers of cooking and the importance of kitchen safety.

And so they should! Around 60% of accidental house fires start in the kitchen and taking a few simple precautions can help to prevent these disasters.

The Great British Bake Off contestants are firing up their ovens

Keep these kitchen safety tips in mind when you’re cooking along with The Great British Bake Off…

  • Do not leave your cooking unattended (Ladies, not even to drool over Mat on the TV)
  • Don’t wear loose clothing that could drape into the burners on the hob
  • Regularly clean your hob and oven to avoid a build up of grease that could ignite into a fire.
  • Double check that the hob and cooker are turned off after use
  • Do not leave the house with your dinner in the oven (This sounds like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many people pop to the shops while the roast is cooking, only to return to a blaze)
  • Keep tea towels and cloths a safe distance away from the hob
  • Long hair should be tied up when cooking on the hob

If a pan catches fire:

  • Don’t try and tackle the fire yourself or attempt to move the pan
  • Turn off the heat if it is safe to do so
  • Do not throw water over the fire, as this can make the blaze bigger!
  • Evacuate everyone from the room, shut the door and call the fire brigade on 999

Smoke detectors save lives and every home should have one on each floor. These can be incorporated into your home burglar alarm system very easily.

Otherwise, the results can be devastating…

The great british bake off and fire safety

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