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FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE UNCONSCIOUS MAN FROM FLAT

Kent Fire and Rescue Service are warning people of the dangers of leaving cooking unattended after after a man was rescued from a fire in Dover.

Firefighters were called to flats in Folkestone Road, Dover in the early hours of Sunday morning (26 June) when a communal fire alarm system was set off.

Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the ground floor flat  and found an unconscious man inside. He was carried to safety and given oxygen before being rushed to hospital.

It is thought that the man may have fallen asleep while cooking.  The kitchen and the lounge were damaged by smoke.

Firefighters later gave fire safety advice to local residents.

Head of Community Fire Safety Stuart Skilton said: “People feel very comfortable in their own homes and it’s easy to lose concentration when cooking. However, people do get hurt as a result of these types of incidents so take our advice and help keep you and your family safe.  I cannot stress enough the importance of having a working smoke alarm.â€?

Here are some basic cooking fire safety advice tips:

• Don’t leave pans unattended. Take them off the heat if you leave the room. Remember, fire starts when your attention stops

• Turn saucepan handles so that they don’t stick out from the hob

• Never fill a pan more then o­ne third full of fat or oil. If the oil starts to smoke, do not begin cooking – remove from the heat and leave it to cool

• Keep the oven, hob and grill clean – a build up of fat and grease can easily catch fire

• Don’t cook if you’re tired, or have been drinking

• Fit smoke alarms o­n every floor of your home, and test the batteries regularly

• If there is a fire, get out, stay out and call the fire service out.

Anyone wishing to have a home fire safety check can contact their nearest station or fire safety office. Log o­n to www.kent.fire-uk.org or contact the community fire safety team o­n 01622 698360 for more information about safety tips in the home.