By Esther Lauaki
An alarming increase in kitchen fires has spurred Truganina fire brigade to sound a warning to residents.
Brigade spokeswoman Michele Abbott said crews attended five kitchen fires in five days at the end of last month.
“The brigade has seen a big increase in the number of kitchen fires we are attending,” Ms Abbott said.
“We are not sure why this is happening but it is a very worrying trend.”
She said there are a number of precautions residents can take to stay safe in the kitchen.
*Make sure there is a fire blanket handy in your kitchen.
*Clean grease and oils from the splashback behind the stove or cooktop as well as from the rangehood filters.
*Never leave flammable objects like paper towels or tea towels next to a working stove.
*Always pay attention when cooking as fires can start and spread quickly.
*Never throw water on a fat or oil fire.”
Latest statistics released by the CFA for District 14, which takes in Werribee, Melton, Brimbank, Hume and Whittlesea, showed unattended cooking, electrical appliances and heating were the top three causes of fires across the west last year.
District 14 operations manager David Harris last month said that the most common room in which fires started was the kitchen.
