Why the air fryer in your kitchen might be a secret killer -and how authorities are in the dark about extent of the danger

By FREYA BARNES 01:40 04 Nov 2024, updated 08:17 04 Nov 2024

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The Home Office are failing to accurately record the number of fires that have been caused by air fryers, despite several indicators that the hidden figure is higher than ever.

Firefighters must document the cause of a blaze on their Incident Recording System (IRS) which collects the data that can then be used to help fire services know the latest dangers they face and how best to deal with them.

To document the cause of a fire on the IRS they must choose from a list of options but air fryer is not on that list.

Data released by the Home Office shows a six fold increase in the number of times the word 'air fryer' was mentioned in the additional free text box on the IRS in the last two years.

In that time, the trendy gadgets became the third most used appliance in UK kitchens.

But the additional text mentions are not an accurate way to track air fryer fires as some could be merely incidental. For example, additional text recorded by a crew might state: 'Fortunately, the fire didn't reach the air fryer.'

Has YOUR air fryer caught alight? Email [email protected]

The air fryer boom can be compared to the chip pan boom in the 1970s and 80s which gave rise to chip pans fires. They became so common that an amnesty was created and chip pan was added as an option on the IRS so firefighters could accurately record and track them.

Keep your air fryer unplugged when it is not in use.

Clean it thoroughly after each use as left over grease in hard-to-reach areas can ignite a fire.

Never place an air fryer on top of a tea towel or other soft, flammable surfaces.

Do not use an air fryer in an area with poor ventilation or under over-counter cupboards.

Don't let the air fryer hot air ventilation openings blow into electrical outlets. You need to leave space around the air fryer for the vent to circulate. Use the 'hand-span rule' when using your air-fryer ensuring there is at least 5 inches or the average hand length, around the device for ventilation.

Some air fryers use what are known as 'soft touch single sided membrane switches' to control the device. These can perish over time and cause the machine to switch on without the user's knowledge. Any switches or buttons on the device that appear sunken or damaged should indicate that the device should not be used

However, data shows that chip pans have fallen out of fashion in UK homes and have been replaced with air fryers so it is important that air fires caused by them are also documented and tracked properly.

Last year, the Home Office said they would review the IRS and how it records data on fires to bring it up to date with emerging technologies like air fryers but they have failed to do so.

Stuart Wiggans, Chief Compliance Officer at Shield Safety, a leading provider of fire and food safety services, told MailOnline: 'Evidence strongly suggests that fires caused by air fryers are on the rise and the Home Office should undoubtedly add air fryers as a specific category for the cause of fire on the IRS.

'Accurate tracking and categorisation of air fryer-related fires would enable the development of targeted fire safety campaigns and regulatory measures, ultimately helping to mitigate the risks and prevent future incidents.

'Additionally, more accurate data could highlight particular makes and models that pose more risk.'

Mr Wiggans explained that the Home Office's failure to record air fryer fires could pose several risks.

'Failing to record air fryer fires poses several dangers. Firstly, it obscures the true scale of the problem, making it difficult for policymakers and safety regulators to address the issue effectively. Without accurate data, efforts to improve air fryer safety standards and educate the public on safe usage practices may be insufficient.

'Additionally, the lack of precise recording hinders the ability to identify common causes and factors contributing to these fires, which is crucial for developing preventive measures.'

A Home Office spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We regularly review the data that we receive from Fire and Rescue Services to ensure emerging risks are accurately captured.'

There has been a string of terrifying stories in recent years of the kitchen must-have, which can be bought for as little as £25, suddenly bursting into flames.

Rebecca Sim, 52, from Manchester, last year revealed how her one-year-old Tower fryer 'could have burnt down the kitchen'.

It began to emit a plastic smell, prompting her to turn the device off and smother it with a tea towel.

Ms Sim threw it out of the back door as soon as she saw smoke and what looked like flames in the base. It then quickly 'turned into an inferno', she said.

Meanwhile, in Florida in March, fire officials believe an air fryer used to heat up pizza sparked a fire that obliterated a home.

The homeowner said she was in her yard at the time of the fire and managed to save her dog from the flames - but her property had been 'completely destroyed'

Air fryers cook by rapidly circulating hot air, mimicking the effect of deep-fried food with far fewer calories and a fraction of the fat.

Just last month, an air fryer sold on Amazon was urgently recalled over fears it could catch on fire.

Health and safety bosses warned the Pro Breeze 2L Air Fryer 1000W posed a threat because 'the internal components may overheat and ignite'.

Owners were told stop using the product immediately and unplug it from the main power supply.

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