Avoid fire - get a takeaway

Station Officer Paul Hodgson gave his advice following a fire at a bungalow, caused when its unnamed resident put a chip pan on the cooker to make supper, and promptly fell asleep.

The unattended frying pan caught fire and the flames spread to the kitchen, in Ambleside Avenue, Redcar, east Cleveland, which was wrecked by fire, early yesterday.

The victim was given oxygen by firefighters at the scene, but was unhurt.

The blaze was confined to the kitchen, which sustained severe fire, heat and smoke damage. There was light smoke damage to the rest of the property.

SO Hodgson also urged people to exchange their existing frying pans for a thermostatically controlled ones, with the help of a discount voucher available at any fire station.

He said: "Find a takeaway rather than try to cook yourself something late at night when you come home late from the pub or club. They are open virtually all hours.