Date: 19th February, 2025
Firefighters from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service attended a property fire on Saturday 15 February which started after an online cleaning hack led to an air fryer catching alight.
Multiple appliances were mobilised to a property in Bournemouth after the activation of the fire alarms caused by the appliance catching alight. On arrival, the crews discovered there had been a fire in a kitchen on the first floor of the building which had already been extinguished by the activation of the sprinkler system.
Safe & Well Manager Sarah Moore said “We understand the cause of the fire was from an air fryer. The occupier had previously cleaned the appliance after seeing a cleaning hack online which resulted in the appliance sparking and catching alight.”
She added “Air fryers are a great way to cook in an energy-efficient way but, like all appliances, care should be taken to use them safely. The manufacturer’s advice for cleaning and maintenance should always be followed to reduce the risk of a fire.”
Here are some of our top safety tips when using an air fryer:
- Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Always unplug your air fryer when it’s not in use. That way, it can’t be switched on accidentally.
- There are internal and external components of the air fryer that get really hot during cooking. Protect yourself by using oven gloves when handling the appliance, and protect your worktop by placing hot baskets and lids onto a trivet or heat safe board/mat.
- Don’t cook in a non-ventilated area or under over-counter cupboards. Pull the air fryer away from the wall and open windows if you don’t have an extraction fan.
- Don’t let the air fryer hot air ventilation openings blow into electrical outlets. You need to leave space around the air fryer for the vent to circulate.
For more advice of cooking safety, visit our website www.dwfire.org.uk/kitchen-safety/