Kitchen design
Kitchen Fire Safety: Alarms, Fire Blankets and Chip Pans
Most home fires start in the kitchen. The alarm that belongs there, what to do if a pan catches fire, and why water makes it worse.
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Busy Christmas cooking, distractions and hot oil are a risky mix. A few simple precautions make a kitchen fire far less likely, and far less serious if one starts.
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The right alarm
A smoke alarm in the kitchen goes off every time you make toast. Fire services suggest considering a heat alarm in the kitchen instead, with a smoke alarm on every floor of the home elsewhere. Test alarms monthly.
If a pan catches fire
| Do | Do not |
|---|---|
| Turn off the heat, if it is safe to do so | Move the pan |
| Get everyone out, close the door and call 999 | Throw water on burning oil: it can cause a fireball |
| Use a fire blanket only on a small fire, if you know how | Use an ordinary extinguisher on burning oil |
Prevention
- Never leave cooking unattended; take pans off the heat if you have to leave.
- Never fill a chip pan more than a third full of oil; better still, use a thermostatically controlled deep-fat fryer.
- Keep tea towels and cookbooks away from the hob.
- Clean the cooker hood filters: built-up grease can catch fire.
Choosing a hob? Induction has no open flame: see induction, gas or ceramic.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I have a smoke alarm in the kitchen?
Fire services suggest a heat alarm in the kitchen, since cooking sets off smoke alarms. Have a smoke alarm on every floor elsewhere.
What should I do if a chip pan catches fire?
Turn off the heat only if it is safe, do not move the pan, never use water, get everyone out, close the door and call 999.
How full should a chip pan be?
Never more than a third full of oil. A thermostatically controlled deep-fat fryer is safer.
Sources
- Kitchen safety, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue. Checked 6 October 2026.
- Chip pan safety, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service. Checked 6 October 2026.