PEOPLE across Burton and South Derbyshire are being urged to stay ‘flipping safe’ today as they celebrate Shrove Tuesday.
Staffordshire Fire Rescue Service joined forces with their counterparts in Derbyshire to offer a word of warning to people getting to set to get out their frying pans and rustle up some pancakes.
This comes after it was revealed that more than half of accidental house fires are caused by accidents in the kitchen.
Head of risk reduction at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Glynn Luznyj said: “Shrove Tuesday means fun in the kitchen for adults and children alike however the novelty and excitement of making pancakes often makes people less cautious with their cooking.
“A common scenario involves families tucking into their delicious freshly made pancakes, forgetting that they have left their frying pan on the hob, burning away. If this does happen to you and the pan catches fire, switch off the heat, if it is safe to do so. Then get out, closing the door behind you and call 999.
“We would urge people to check that they have turned appliances off when they have finished using them and never leave cooking unattended – stay in the kitchen until you are finished and then switch off the appliance you have used.”
Away from the kitchen, teams of paper will be gunning for a win in Swadlincote’s annual pancake races.
Businesses, organisations and friends are set to part in the event on a purpose built course on The Delph today.
Councillor Bob Wheeler, leader, who enjoyed being a member of a team last year, said: “The Swadlincote Pancake Races have become an annual tradition in the town and have gone from strength to strength over the past two years.
“It is a fun event, held in a special atmosphere amid the impressive backdrop of Swadlincote Town Hall, and we’d like to see as many people as possible come along and help us raise lots of money for charity.”
Last year, in the team races, the gold medal went to ‘Flickin Brilliant’ from Keystone UK with a time of 53.71 seconds.
