Firefighters safety warning after Thatcham hob fire

According to Phil Knight, the watch manager of White Watch at Newbury Fire Station, one pump from Newbury and a second from Tilehurst, Reading, were called at 10.30am to a kitchen fire at a house in Hussars Drive, Thatcham, after a neighbour heard an activated smoke alarm and alerted emergency services.
Firefighters used two sets of breathing apparatus and a hosereel to extinguish the blaze, which left the house and kitchen smoke-logged and damaged the hob.
No-one was hurt.
Mr Knight said the fire was an alert to the dangers of placing items on hobs and leaving them unattended.
“Hobs can be knocked on by children or pets. Hobs are quite dangerous when people use them as working surfaces,” said Mr Knight, who emphasised items should not be placed on hobs and the power should be turned off at the mains after use.