Warning after kitchen fire in Bognor flat

They said a blaze in a small cooking pan the kitchen of an unoccupied flat in the town yesterday (Sunday, August 10) showed how dangerous it could be.

A next door neighbour dialled 999 after spotting smoke coming from the flat on the sixth floor of the Fitzleet House tower block in Queensway.

Two fire engines from Bognor Regis and a further four appliances from Chichester and Worthing were immediately sent to the scene at just after 11.30am. Some 30 firefighters were present in all.

They had to break into the flat and remove a saucepan from the cooker that had boiled dry and started to smoke heavily. They were at the scene for about 30 minutes.

A spokesman said: "West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service would like to remind people of the importance of not leaving cooking unattended as potentially this could have developed into a serious fire.

"The property didn't have a working smoke alarm and, by sheer luck, the next door neighbour discovered the situation and promptly dialled 999."

This was the second fire involving unattended cooking in West Sussex within two days. Friday night (August 8) saw a man from Crawley having to be rescued by firefighters and treated for smoke inhalation.

Nationally, more than 20 people a day are killed or seriously injured in kitchen fires.

The fire and rescue service spokesman added that a moment's distraction while cooking could end with devastating consequences. Pans should never be left unattended on a cooker.

They should be taken off the heat before leaving the room.

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