As the 'Great British Bake Off' final approaches [today, Tuesday 31 October], the Brigade is warning budding bakers to take extra care as new figures reveal that most house fires start in the kitchen.

[Brigade figures show that every day a Londoner suffers an injury such as smoke inhalation or burns following a house fire. Of these, around two per month are severe burns.

 

cooking in a kitchen

 

 

London Fire Brigade Group Manager Mark Hazelton said: "Before you mix your muffins and treacle your tart you need to test your fire alarms. "One smoke alarm in a hallway is not enough, smoke alarms save lives but they're too sensitive for your kitchen. We recommend fitting a heat detector in the kitchen as these are designed to go off when fire temperatures are reached.

"Smoke alarms should be fitted in rooms where you leave electrical equipment running like satellite boxes, computers or heaters; any room where you smoke, and anywhere you charge your mobile or laptop.

"It is vital that people regularly test their smoke alarms at least once a month. If you discover a fire, make sure you alert everyone in your household, close any doors behind you and make your way out. Closing your doors helps to slow the spread of fire and smoke through the property."

The numbers of people who suffer burn injuries following a fire are only recorded when the Brigade is in attendance, so the actual total number of injuries sustained is likely to be higher.