Fire plea for extra care through Ramadan

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue fears people are more likely to be at risk of fire during Ramadan, which began today (June 18), when cooking takes place before sunrise or after sunset.

Head of community safety Kevin Ronan, said: “We recognise this is a really important time in the Islamic calendar, but want to make sure people observe it safely. In particular, people should take extra care to keep an eye on their cooking, as fasting could leave you feeling tired and more likely to become distracted or have an accident.

“Smoke alarms are the best way of making sure that if a fire does occur, you have the vital extra minutes to escape. So make sure smoke alarms are fitted on every level of your home and test them regularly.

“It’s also vital that if the smoke alarms do sound, everyone in the house knows what to do and knows how to escape, so talk this through with your family and loved ones.”

Top tips from the fire service for staying safe during Ramadan:

- Take extra care when cooking, particularly with hot oil as it sets alight easily

- Never throw water on a burning pan – get out and call 999

- Take extra care with clothing – make sure hijaabs, shalwar, kameez and saris are kept well away from the hob

- Practise escape routes

- Have a working smoke alarm on every floor of your home and test them weekly to make sure they work