What causes a chip pan fire?

What to do if I have a chip pan fire?

The oil or fat is over heated and catches fire. The oil or fat spill on to the cooker normally because either the pan has been filled up to high or we food has been added causing the fat to bubble up and overflow.

Turn off the heat (if it is safe to do so). Leave the kitchen closing the door behind you, tell everyone in the house to leave. Do not go back for any reason. Either place a fire blanket or a damp tea towel over the pan, turn off the heat and leave to extinguish and fully cool before removing the covering.

Do not
Put any water on the fire. Use a fire extinguisher on the fire. Move the pan.

To prevent fires

The Facts
In the UK there are 12,000 chip pan fires every year. 1,000 of these are considered serious. This results in 4,600 injuries & 50 deaths per year. 43 per cent of chip pan casualties took place between 8pm and 4am (mostly by men under the influence of alcohol). Dont leave pans unattended. Never fill a pan more than one third with oil. Dont investigate the fire. Dont attempt to cook if you are feeling tired, drowsy, ill or if you have been drinking.