Pouring water on a chip pan fire left a woman with burns to her hand last night.

The woman, from Watling Street, Dartford, called 999 when she found the chip pan alight on her cooker at around 8pm.

She attempted to put out the blaze by carrying the pan of hot oil over to her kitchen sink and dousing it with water - but that caused it to flare up more.

Two fire engines from Dartford arrived within three minutes of the call and crew manager Gary Miller said: "Fortunately it missed her face but she burnt her left hand. The woman then applied a damp tea towel over the pan and managed to extinguish the fire."

Firefighters administered first aid to the woman who also suffered slight smoke inhilation, as did her daughter.

Both were taken to hospital for precautionary checks.

The fire caused damage to the cooker extractor fan. Firefighters ventilated the property and left at around 9.30pm.

Mr Miller added: "A moment’s distraction while cooking can have disastrous consequences. Most cooking fires are the result of food catching on fire after being left for too long on the hob or under the grill.

"Always stand by your pan and never attempt to tackle a chip pan fire using water. If the oil has overheated; turn the heat off if it’s safe to do so, cover it with a lid and leave to cool down.

"If a fire has started, get everyone out of your home, closing the doors as you leave and call the fire service for help.”

For more fire safety advice, call 0800 923 7000 or visit www.3breaths.info.