Chip pan fires are still a common call for fire and rescue services. A fire blanket is the most effective way to extinguish this type of fire. Pull the blanket out of its box and grasp the tapes in each hand with your fingers pointing to the centre of the open blanket. Turn the hands inward with the fingers pointing up so the palms face the fire through the blanket. Your hands should now be wrapped inside the corner folds of the blanket. Taking small steps, ensuring the centre of gravity of your body remains between your feet, slowly advance towards the fire. Holding your arms at there fullest extent in front of you, place the blanket over the burning pan trying to centralise it under the blanket. Turn off the heat source and leave the blanket in place for at least 60 minutes. This gives time for the heat energy in the oil to dissipate and not reignite if oxygen is reintroduced.

Click on this link to see a video clip of a blanket being deployed. It also shows the effect of water being placed in a burning pan.

File 1 (858kb)

Many of the fires that start in business premises, and the home, at Christmas time, could easily have been prevented. At this time of year we bring trees into the house and workplace. We then decorate them with lights that have not seen the light of day since last January. How often do you sit there finding the loose bulb that makes them work again. Have you ever checked that the correct fuse is fitted to the plug. An over rated fuse could leave power on dangerous lights and provide enough heat energy to ignite the tree. Untreated real and artificial Christmas trees are potential fire bombs. US Government NIST Fire Test results indicate that a 1.49m undecorated and untreated Noble fir tree reached an astonishing 760C peak temperature in only 40 seconds from ignition.

Christmas trees, and decorations, can be treated with a fire retardent spray that greatly reduces the risk of ignition. Contact us to find out how cheap this product is and compare it to the cost of a fire destroying your home or business.

Click the link below to see a video of a Christmas tree fire.

File 1 (4695kb)

Candles and tealights are a major cause for concern at this time of year. Never leave a room where candles are left burning. It only takes a few seconds for a candle to ignite decorations on a table and the fire to spread throughout the room. Candles should always be used in sturdy, purpose made holder that will be difficult to knock over. Tealights should always be stood on a glass or ceramic stand. They generate enough heat in the foil holder to melt through plastic. TV's, stereo's and computers  are no match for the heat. After they melt through the casing, the wax will be spread over the electronics and cause a major fire. They also generate enough heat energy to ignite solid timber such as a table top.

Never allow candles to be placed near untreated decorations or materials such as curtains or furniture. Remember that fire retardant furniture does not mean it is fire proof.

"Using holders will not spoil the atmosphere that candles create but not using holders may spoil a great deal more than that.", David Townsend

David Townsend is a Station Officer in the London Fire Brigade attached to the Fire Investigation Department. This is what he has to say on the BBC website.

Some years ago my colleagues and I proved and documented the fact that these particular candles, arguably the most frequently used today, can be dangerous as they sometimes burn abnormally.

If they do so, and are used, and have direct contact with hollow plastic furniture they can, and have caused serious fires involving loss of life.

It happens most commonly with TVs but also with Hi Fis, acrylic baths and toilet cisterns.

The tealight is not intended for use as a stand-alone candle, however, it has been frequently shown this way in papers, magazines and TV programmes; scattered around to make other products look good.

There are many different kinds of holders available but they are not always available in the same shop.

Warning

Tealights are often sold in bulk as a loss-leader, so the cost of holders seems out of proportion. Warning labels are often vague and inadequate.

We have done all we possibly can to highlight the problem including press releases to Ester Ranzen.

The media have responded well but the fires still occur. The picture to the right shows the remains of a Hi-Fi.

The distinctive base of a tealight candle is embedded in the debris.

The occupiers had a working smoke alarm that probably saved their lives.

Stay safe

David Townsend

SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES

 Check your smoke detector works at least once every week. Ensure it is fitted in the correct place in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. Replace batteries at intervals of not less than 1 year and use a quality battery (it will last longer).

If your alarm is always going off, every time you burn the toast, consult a qualified electrician. Different types of alarm are available (Ionisation, Optical or Heat) for different situations. Visit our links page for a connection to Barretts Electrical Services for impartial advice on the best option for you.

Battery Smoke Alarms can cost as little as £5.00. The best alarms are mains powered, interlinked and with a battery back up. How much is your, your childs or an employees life worth.