Oxfordshire firefighters kick-off World Cup home safety advice

Football fans enjoying the World Cup on TV at home, or organising barbecues and other community events with neighbours, are being encouraged to remain fire alert.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service is highlighting how tension and euphoria associated with the global football extravaganza can easily become a dangerous distraction.

Deb Forder, Safety Manager for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “A penalty shootout or drama around a video referee decision are big attention grabbers, making it easy to momentarily take our eyes off the fire safety ball.

“So, play it safe; you could prepare food before kick-off; or buy takeaways and home delivered pizzas to remove the need to do any cooking.

“Remember, if you are prepping your own meal, remove any pan off the hob and turnoff the cooker if you’re leaving the kitchen to grab the latest on the big game, and don’t drink and fry.

“We recommend avoiding chip pans, which create an unnecessary home fire risk; instead, use a thermostat-controlled deep fat fryer or an air fryer.

“Clean burnt food and fat from grills, toasters, cookers and microwaves, and turnoff appliances when cooking is finished. This is common sense safety advice we should follow every day, not just during major sporting events; however, the appeal and passion of the World Cup makes it even more important.

“The best result is not to smoke; however, if you do then please discard cigarettes safely and don’t smoke in bed.”

When using a barbeque, advice includes never leaving it unattended, ensuring it is in good working order, and making sure any gas pipes are in good condition and connected correctly. Placing the barbecue on a stable surface is also important so it cannot fall over.

After use, it is recommended that any cylinders are property turned off and coals shouldn’t be disposed of in a bin, for at least 24 hours.

Flags, banners and bunting should be kept away from candles and barbeques.

Deb said: “Enjoy the World Cup, it’s a great way to bring communities together, but remember that football, alcohol and cooking are never the best team combination!”

FIRE Magazine

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