Fire and Rescue NSW launch Keep Looking when Cooking to reduce tragic amount of kitchen fires

Last year 100 house fires were sparked in Bankstown from cooking accidents — one of the highest numbers in Sydney. Fed up with the figures, Fire and Rescue NSW has launched a statewide campaign to ensure residents stay vigilant in the kitchen.

Senior Greenacre firefighter Mohammed Hadad is urging people to keep looking when cooking after 100 kitchen fires tore through Bankstown homes last year. Picture: Tim Clapin

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Last year 100 house fires were sparked in Bankstown from cooking accidents — one of the highest numbers in Sydney.

Across NSW, preventable kitchen fires were the largest single cause of house fires last year, representing 45 per cent of all residential fires and 34 per cent of injuries.

Fed up with the figures, Fire and Rescue NSW has launched a statewide campaign, Keep Looking when Cooking, to ensure residents stay vigilant in the kitchen.

Bankstown Fire Station commander Chris Andrews has seen his fair share of fires here in the last 20 years.

He said the main cause of blazes in the kitchen is people leaving their cooking unattended — but he has also seen some unusual causes.

Kitchen fires like this one, were the largest cause of house fires last year.

“I once saw a fire severely damage a kitchen because a candle was left burning in the metal sink,” Mr Andrews said.

“The wax oozed down the plughole and burned through the plastic pipe, setting fire to the cleaning products underneath.

Fortunately they had a dishwasher and the fire spread — it burnt through its water hose which put most of the fire out.”

Across southwest Sydney almost 300 fires ripped through homes after a flame or heat source was left unattended.

Mr Andrews said the high number of incidents in the region could be put down to the multicultural population.

“Many of these people from diverse backgrounds love cooking up great delights from their heritage but don’t always do this safely,” he said.

Fire and Rescue NSW Chief Superintendent Jeremy Fewtrell said it could take just three minutes for a fire to take hold, but only seconds to prevent one.

Kitchen fire safety tips

1. Keep loose clothing, fabrics, tea towels and curtains away from the stove

2. Turn pot handles inward to avoid being knocked or grabbed by children

3. Store flammable items like aerosols and cooking oils away from heat

4. Make sure you have a working smoke alarm

5. Never use water on a fat or oil fire

Kitchen fires in 2016

Blacktown — 176

Parramatta — 130

Liverpool — 115

Bankstown — 100

Campbelltown — 92

Fairfield — 86