FIREFIGHTERS are urging residents to take care in the kitchen after a recent surge in cooking fires in Timperley.

Four kitchen fires started when cooking was left unattended, with one fire starting after a resident left a pan of food on the hob before going out to collect their children from school.

Other causes include unattended pans boiling dry and a fire started by oil in an oven.

Area Manager Paul Etches, head of prevention at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said “It’s easy to become distracted while cooking in the home and that’s when accidents can happen.

“Always stand by your pan. Never leave cooking unattended – it only takes a second for fires to start.”

Councillor David Acton, chairman of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority added: “Four cooking fires within a small area kept Altrincham firefighters busy – not just in responding but following up post-fire with safety advice.

“We would encourage residents to think about kitchen fire safety and what they can do to keep their families safe from danger.

“Please make sure you have a correctly fitted and working smoke alarm on each floor of your property and test it monthly.”

For more information and advice on cooking safety click here.