A senior Aberdeen fire officer is warning residents of the dangers of mixing cooking and alcohol to in an effort to crack down on accidental house fires.
Station manager Gordon Riddel said official figures showed a huge majority of accidental house fires started in the kitchen – and that adding the element of drunkenness only increased the risk.
Between January and December 2014, 76% of accidental house fires in Aberdeen started in the kitchen.
Gordon Riddel
Mr Riddel said: “It is very easy to be distracted while cooking. The doorbell can go, the phone might ring, children can distract us, or we might leave the room to do other chores while food is cooking.
“Alcohol is also a common factor in many house fires and anyone who is under the influence is advised not to cook.”
He urged people not to leave pans unattended, to take them off the heat if they have to leave the room and to make sure the cooker or oven is turned off after they finish.
To request a free home fire safety visit call 0800 0731 999.
Fire station manager urges public to put down the bottle when cooking
