Fire chiefs issue killjoy advice to ALL home cooks this Christmas as false alarm 999 call-outs for burnt food hit all-time high
Fire chiefs issue killjoy advice to ALL home cooks this Christmas as false alarm 999 call-outs for burnt food hit all-time high
Share:
Killjoy fire chiefs want you to steer clear of the booze until after Christmas dinner is served. London Fire Brigade bosses say it will 'ensure your wits are about you' when the roasties are cooking. Drinking while juggling making dinner and engaging with loved ones risks starting a blaze that might need 999 crews to attend, it says.
It comes as Government data shows 'false alarm' 999 call-outs for burning food are at an all-time high. Firefighters attended 62,200 cooking-related false alarms in England over 2023/24. This has risen by a quarter in the past decade, from 50,027 in 2013/14.
The statistics, collected by the Home Office annually, include burnt toast and BBQs gone wrong. Cooking, Christmas lights, new electronics and alcohol make potent fire risks, experts say. All were technically 'false alarms'. This could be through the activation of automatically-linked smoke alarms in offices and communal buildings.
It also covers well-intentioned phone calls from concerned citizens. Bosses at the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) say you should always call 999 if you suspect a fire – even if it does amount to nothing. An NFCC spokesperson said: 'With more people spending time at home over the festive period, there can be a small increased risk of fire.
'This might equally see a similar increase in the number of "false alarms" linked to cooking-related celebrations. 'People are absolutely right to dial 999 if they suspect a fire and we would never discourage anybody from doing that.'. They added: 'To protect themselves in their homes we would urge people to ensure they have the right detection and in the right place.
Share:
More for You
Top Followed
You Might Also Like
