FIRE SAFETY IN YOUR HOME

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Fire warning after chip pan death

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FIREFIGHTERS have been back to the scene of a fatal blaze in Tonge Moor to emphasise their "Get out and stay out" message.

Crews from Bolton were handing out leaflets to neighbours in Cartmell Street, where a 47-year-old woman died when she became trapped in her burning kitchen after trying to put out a chip pan fire.

Sharon Knowles was found unconscious in the kitchen.

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Bolton North fire station crew commander Stuart Hay said: "Never return to a fire. Call us and get out. Do not try and tackle it by yourself and always have an alternative escape route if your normal exit gets blocked."

The fire service has stopped encouraging householders to tackle small fires as it believes it was leading to more accidents.

The leaflets urge residents to: l install smoke alarms l make sure there is access to a phone l make sure you know where your house keys are and that they are easy accessible to unlock doors l be prepared to escape through upstairs windows by having something like a mattress that can be used to jump on to.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: "The best advice to give to the public in the event of a house fire is get out, stay out, and call the fire brigade."

RoSPA also recommends using a thermostat-controlled, freestanding electric deep fat fryer. An alternative method of cooking chips is in the oven.

Chip pan fires cause more injuries than any other domestic fires. In 2001, there were 9,471 chip pan fires in the UK in which 3,364 people were injured and 33 were killed.

Do you have a fire plan at home? Spend some time with your partner, children and discuss what might happen and what your plans are.

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Remember GET OUT STAY OUT GET THE BRIGADE OUT…….