FIGURES released this week reveal an alarming number of kitchen fires caused by unattended chip pans in Wirral over the last 12 months.

The Merseyside fire and rescue service statistics, released as part of National Chip Pan Week, show that there have been 162 such fires across the borough and 878 across Merseyside.

Firefighters put out a fire at a terraced house in Water Street, Birkenhead, last week caused by an unattended pan that overheated and caught fire. A 30-year-old man escaped and was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

Fire service, spokesman John Davies said: "This fire is a timely reminder of the dangers a chip pan can pose. You can't underestimate the damage this kind of fire brings, not just to your property but also the distress and disruption it can cause.

"We would urge residents to think about the methods they use for cooking; using a chip pan just isn't worth the risk.

"It's far better to take the time to invest in a deep fat fryer or use oven chips.

"As well as damaging the kitchen, it also disrupts family life, causes loss of personal items, increases insurance costs, distresses family and friends, leads to the risk of potential injury and in the worst cases loss of life."

The message being reinforced as part of National Chip Pan Week is that taking simple steps in the home can greatly reduce the risk of fire.

q Keep the oven, hob and grill clean - a build up of fat and grease can easily catch fire.

qKeep electrical leads, tea towels and cloths away from the cooker.

qDon't leave pans unattended.

qWhen you have finished, make sure the cooker is turned off.

qTake care late at night - it is easy to be careless when tired or if you've been drinking.

qUse a thermostatically con-rolled deep-fat fryer. If using a chip pan, never fill it more than a third full of oil.

qDo not leave children on their own in a kitchen.

Chip Pan Week literature further advises that people should never be tempted to cook under the influence of alcohol; pans should never be filled more than one third full with fat or oil; and they should never be left unattended.

Free home fire safety check for all residents during which advice on cooking methods will be provided.

q To take advantage of this offer please call 0800 731 5958 to arrange an appointment. Fire service show that within the last 12 months there have been 878 chip pan fires across Merseyside.