To help reduce the number of accidental kitchen fires across the county, we've created a campaign called ‘Hook it, Don’t Cook it’ which has one clear and simple message – keep your hob clear to keep your family safe.

Our firefighters respond to around 200 accidental kitchen fires every year, but the true number of incidents of this nature happening where the fire service isn’t called, is thought to be considerably higher.

As part of a survey (October 2022) a third of Kent and Medway residents admitted to causing a fire having left items like tea towels, oven gloves, baking paper, bin liners, clothes, and even their own hair, on or close to the hob during or after cooking. A further fifteen percent said they’d had a near miss and moved an item away from the hob just in time.  

Through the Hook it, Don’t Cook it campaign we advise residents to hook tea towels at least 50cm away from the hob (about an arm’s length), to reduce the chance of a fire starting.

Where do you hook your tea towel?

Every kitchen is different but there’s always room for a hook. You could put yours:

• On the back of the kitchen door
• On the wall
• Inside a cupboard door

Kent and Medway residents can request a free tea towel hook by emailing their full name and home address to info@kent.fire-uk.org or calling 01622 692121 (While stocks last).

If you don’t have a hook you could keep your tea towel on the work surface or in a drawer or cupboard - just make sure it’s safely kept at least 50cm away from the hob to avoid it catching fire.