A STRING of kitchen fires has prompted a warning from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

During October, the Service was called to 18 fires involving cooking or items left on top of a hob.

Station Manager Damien Bence, from the community safety department, said: “National figures show that more than half of all accidental fires in the home start in the kitchen, and it is very worrying to have had so many of these incidents locally.”

He added: “When we look at the fires we’ve had in Wiltshire, there are definite patterns - items such as tea towels or chopping boards being placed on or next to the hot hob, pans left unattended, fat on grill pans catching alight, or hot oil from chip pans splashing onto the cooker top and igniting.

“We were incredibly lucky that none of these fires developed into something more serious, but all could have been easily avoided with a little care.”

The service is advising people to keep cooking appliances clean to avoid grease fires, keeping lose clothing and tea towels away from sources of heat and to make sure that your fire alarm is working.

A full range of kitchen safety advice can be found at www.wiltsfire.gov.uk/kitchensafety