Man has “lucky escape” after Tilbury kitchen fire

The man fell asleep while cooking and woke to find the room full of smoke.

Fire crews have issued advice after a man tried to tackle a fire in his home.

During the early hours of this morning, he began heating oil on the hob in his kitchen but then fell asleep in a different room.

He then awoke to find the kitchen of his property, in Leicester Road, filled with smoke and flames.

The man then tried to extinguish it with water, something Essex Fire and Rescue said is “arguably the most dangerous thing you can do.”

Watch Manager Kevin Hercock, from Orsett Fire Station, said: “This whole incident could have ended very differently for so many reasons. 

“Firstly, there were no smoke alarms in the property meaning the man was not alerted to the first sign of fire, so he is very lucky that he woke up when he did.

“Secondly, if the man hadn’t closed the kitchen door the smoke would have reached him more quickly, possibly before he woke up. 

“Finally, the flames could have instantly expanded when he tried to tackle the fire, which is what we would always expect to happen when water is added to a grease fire.

“Any of these factors could have had fatal consequences.

“Our number one piece of advice is to fit a smoke alarm on every level of your home, then no matter what happens you’ll be alerted to the first sign of fire. 

“Never leave cooking unattended either, particularly when cooking with oil, but if for some reason it does ignite then never use water to extinguish it. Always get out, stay out and call 999.”