Firefighters situation warning over air fryers earlier than Christmas after machine bursts into flames and burns down kitchen
Firefighters have issued a warning to air fryer owners ahead of the Christmas period, as a device burst into flames and burnt down a kitchen.
Crews from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service were called to a property on Monday evening following reports of a fire in the kitchen involving an air fryer.
The homeowner noticed an unusual crackling sound coming from the air fryer and removed the food thinking this may be the cause.
But when the noise continued, the owner raised the alarm and called 999.
Upon arrival, firefighters found the air fryer had burst into flames and had ripped through the entire kitchen.
Thankfully, the owner of the property was unharmed in the incident, but there was extensive damage to the kitchen.
DW Fire Rescue said in a statement: ‘On Monday evening we attended a fire involving an air fryer.
‘The owner noticed an unusual crackling sound coming from their air fryer so removed the food thinking this may be the cause but when the noises continued, quickly raised the alarm and called 999 for help.
An image from DW Fire and Rescue showing the damage caused to a person’s home after an air fryer burst into flames on Monday
Upon arrival, firefighters found the air fryer had burst into flames and had ripped through the entire kitchen
‘By the time the crew had arrived, there was a fully developed fire in the kitchen involving the air fryer.
‘Thankfully, the occupier left the property as soon as instructed to by our Fire Control staff and was uninjured, however, there was extensive damage to the kitchen and smoke damage to the property.
‘If you have an air fryer, or are new to owning an air fryer, follow the instructions fully. If you hear crackling, smell smoke or see sparking, unplug immediately if safe to do so, get out, stay out and call 999.’
Firefighters are obliged to document the cause of a blaze on their Incident Recording System (IRS) which collects the data that can then be used to help fire services know the latest dangers they face and how best to deal with them.
To document the cause of a fire on the IRS they must choose from a list of options.
However, MailOnline reported last month, that air fryer was not an option on that list.
Data released by the Home Office shows a six fold increase in the number of times the word ‘air fryer’ was mentioned in the additional free text box on the IRS in the last two years.
In that time, the trendy gadgets became the third most used appliance in UK kitchens.
But the additional text mentions are not an accurate way to track air fryer fires as some could be merely incidental. For example, additional text recorded by a crew might state: ‘Fortunately, the fire didn’t reach the air fryer.’
The air fryer boom can be compared to the chip pan boom in the 1970s and 80s which gave rise to chip pans fires. They became so common that an amnesty was created and chip pan was added as an option on the IRS so firefighters could accurately record and track them.
However, data shows that chip pans have fallen out of fashion in UK homes and have been replaced with air fryers so it is important that air fires caused by them are also documented and tracked properly.
Last year, the Home Office said they would review the IRS and how it records data on fires to bring it up to date with emerging technologies like air fryers but they have failed to do so.
Stuart Wiggans, Chief Compliance Officer at Shield Safety, a leading provider of fire and food safety services, told MailOnline: ‘Evidence strongly suggests that fires caused by air fryers are on the rise and the Home Office should undoubtedly add air fryers as a specific category for the cause of fire on the IRS.
‘Accurate tracking and categorisation of air fryer-related fires would enable the development of targeted fire safety campaigns and regulatory measures, ultimately helping to mitigate the risks and prevent future incidents.
‘Additionally, more accurate data could highlight particular makes and models that pose more risk.’
Mr Wiggans explained that the Home Office’s failure to record air fryer fires could pose several risks.
‘Failing to record air fryer fires poses several dangers. Firstly, it obscures the true scale of the problem, making it difficult for policymakers and safety regulators to address the issue effectively. Without accurate data, efforts to improve air fryer safety standards and educate the public on safe usage practices may be insufficient.
‘Additionally, the lack of precise recording hinders the ability to identify common causes and factors contributing to these fires, which is crucial for developing preventive measures.’
A Home Office spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We regularly review the data that we receive from Fire and Rescue Services to ensure emerging risks are accurately captured.’
