A mother and her young child were led to safety by firefighters in the early hours of Wednesday morning, after a cooking fire at a flat in Salford.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) crews from Stretford, Eccles and Irlam attended the incident in Argosy Way, Eccles at 12.37 am.
By the time firefighters arrived on the scene, the fire was out. But the thick toxic smoke in the property meant that firefighters – who were wearing breathing apparatus – searched the flat and found the pair before leading the mother and her son to safety.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to three further cooking-related incidents over 24 hours with firefighters first dealing with a chip pan fire in Stockport at 6 pm.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire and were on the scene for around an hour and 15 minutes.
Later that evening at 7.35 pm, three fire engines from Altrincham and Wythenshawe attended a fire at a terraced house in Hungerford Walk in Baguley. Again, crews were met with an unattended pan of food which had been left on a hob.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus dealt with the fire using a hose reel.
At 10.14 pm, three appliances from Oldham, Hollins and Chadderton attended Poplar Avenue in the Hollins area of Oldham. Plastic trays had been left on top of a hob which was turned on and had caused a large amount of acrid and toxic black smoke in the property.
A man and woman suffered from smoke inhalation and were given precautionary checks by North West Ambulance Service crews.
GMFRS’ Head of Prevention, Area Manager Paul Duggan, said:
“Due to the quick and professional work of our firefighters, these incidents didn’t result in any serious injuries for residents. But it’s a timely reminder for members of the public to think extra carefully when in the kitchen.
“If you haven’t already please ensure you have a working smoke alarm fitted on every floor of your home – they give you crucial time to escape if a fire did occur and could be what saves your life.”
“Most house fires that GMFRS is alerted to begin in the kitchen.
“It’s important to follow our safety advice, which can be found on our website, to ensure you are minimising any risks to help keep you and your family safe.”
If a pan does catch fire in your home, GMFRS safety advice is as follows:
- Don’t move the pan
- Never throw water or use a water fire extinguisher on a hot fat fire
- If it’s safe to do so – turn off the heat, but never lean over the pan to reach the controls
- Leave the kitchen, close the door behind you, tell everyone else in the home to get out and don’t go back inside for any reason
- Call 999
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