Father And Son Rescued After Chip Pan Fire In Buckley

A father and son have been rescued by firefighters from a house fire in Buckley in the early hours of this morning (Thursday 2 March 2017). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Two fires appliances from Deeside and Buckley were called to the incident at Lyme Grove, Buckley at 00.25hrs after a neighbour heard a smoke alarm sounding at the property. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A 24 year old man and a four year old boy were rescued from the property and received treatment for smoke inhalation at the scene. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The incident yet again highlights the real danger of leaving cooking unattended – the fire was caused by a chip pan and comes just days after another chip pan fire in Wrexham last week (27 February) which coincided with a recent campaign launched by the fire and rescue service urging people to throw away chip pans during National Chip Week (15 February). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Firefighters used four sets of breathing apparatus and a hose reel jet to tackle the fire which was confined to the kitchen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jami Jennings from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “Thankfully, this property had a working smoke alarm which was heard by a neighbour who alerted us to attend. When we arrived, the kitchen was heavily smoke logged and we were able to enter the property to rescue the father and son and confine the fire to the kitchen area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The father had fallen asleep whilst watching TV and had left the chip pan heating – without the warning from the smoke alarm and a vigilant neighbour this could easily have developed into a very serious incident with severe consequences. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Leaving a chip pan unattended for any length of time can have disastrous results as the oil can easily overheat and ignite – it only takes a few minutes for a small fire to develop into one that is serious and life threatening. And if you’re asleep when a fire breaks out, you’re in serious trouble – just a couple of breaths of smoke can be enough to knock you completely unconscious. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As we have seen time and time again – there is no room for complacency so we urge people to throw away your old style chip pan altogether and use a thermostatically controlled deep fat fryer. Oven chips are also safer as well as being healthier. Never leave your cooking unattended and always avoid cooking after drinking alcohol.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As this incident shows – having a working smoke alarm means you are far more likely to to escape unharmed in the event of a fire. So make sure you test your alarm regularly. In the event of a fire get out, stay out and call 999” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​