Praise for helping limit fire damage

Fire officers have praised theactionsofaresidentthat helped limit the amount of damagecausedwhenanunattendedchippanburstinto flames.

Crews from Chatteris and Ramsey were called to River Close, Benwick, on Saturday at 7.55pmandfour firefighterswearingbreathing apparatus used a dry powder extinguisher, one hose reel and one covering jet to tackle the outbreak.

Tony Thacker, watch commander at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Servi ce, said because of the homeowner’sactions, damage had been contained to the kitchen.

Hesaid: “This wasawelldeveloped fire in a kitchen caused by a chip pan being left unattended.

“The homeowner was informed by fire control to get out of the property and to close thedoorbehindher. This action madeasubstantial differencetotheamount of damage caused.”

Crews had returned to their stations by 10.15pm, having first ventilated the property.

A spokeswoman for the fire service added: “Unattended chip pans can be extremely dangerous and are the cause of the largest numberoffire- related injuries in the home.

“Oil itself is a volatile substancewhenheated, and it only takes seconds for an accident to occur, no matter how careful and vigilant you are. If a chip pan fire occurs, the fireservice advises residentsnottopanic, never throw water on the fire, do not move the pan and turn the heat off if it is safe to do so before dialling 999.”