A KITCHEN fire in Birkenhead required six people being checked at the scene by paramedics for smoke inhalation.

Crews used a hose jet to extinguish the blaze in a property near Church Road at around 7.15am on Tuesday.

Watch manager John Kellaway, who attended the call-out with Blue Watch at Birkenhead, said  no working smoke alarms has been fitted.

He said: “The fire involved food packaging on an electric hob that had been turned on by accident and there was severe damage to the kitchen.

“In-line with our general safety advice, we advise people have working smoke alarms on each level of their home.

"We also advise people that, if they discover a fire, to get out of the building where it is, stay outside and call 999.”

Later that afternoon at around 2pm the service was called to another kitchen blaze after a chip pan went up in flames.

In this case, smoke alarms had activated and alerted neighbours.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the property, off Hoylake Road, Birkenhead, and extinguished the fire.

Watch manager Jim Murray attended the incident and said: “There was a lot of smoke in the property when we arrived from a pan of oil that had been left on an ignited cooker ring.

“Smoke alarms activated and alerted neighbours to the fire.

“We advise people to have working smoke alarms on each level of their home.

"Fires involving cooking can produce a lot of smoke quickly which can disorientate people and cause unconsciousness.”

For free fire safety advice telephone 0800 731 5958 or go online to merseyfire.gov.uk

You can also request a Home Fire Safety Check by calling the above number or going to the website.