An elderly Ramsgate man was treated for smoke inhalation after fire broke out in an unattended chip pan.

Two fire engines went to a house in Pegwell Road, shortly after 8.30pm last Tuesday night.

Watch manager Simon Brooks said: “The elderly man had left the pan and it caught light which meant he breathed in quite a lot of smoke so we gave him some oxygen. Although it wasn’t a large fire, it shows how quickly a blaze can break out and if he hadn’t realised what was happening and called us, this clearly could have been much more serious.”

Kent Fire and Rescue Service is warning cooks who use deep fat for frying to follow essential safety advice.

They advise not to fill a chip pan more than one third full and to make sure it does not overheat because hot oil easily catches fire.

Safety officers urge housholders to use a thermostat-controlled deep-fat fryer, never to throw water on a chip pan fire and not to drink alcohol while cooking.

More safety advice is available free on 0800 923 7000 or at www.3breaths.info