A neglected chip pan can take only three minutes to ignite

Pub-goers are being encouraged to indulge in a takeaway after a night out - instead of putting the chip pan on and risking a fire.

The message was made on Tuesday when officers from the north Wales Fire Service unveiled a new campaign called Don't Drink and Cook.

They revealed that 42% of call-outs to kitchen fires were made during the night.

This is not a social issue, it covers everybody Peter Lennard, Eastern Divisional Commander

"The statistics are quite shocking," said Eastern Divisional Commander Peter Lennard.

"A lot of people will celebrate Christmas, and quite rightly so, but sometimes they go out, have a few drinks, the stomach takes over, decide to cook and they fall asleep.

"It is quite devastating if you have ever seen a kitchen fire, it is quite horrendous," he said.

"You could almost expect a call to be a kitchen fire if you had a call between 11pm and 3am on a Friday or Saturday night," added the DC.

Six people have died in 2003 in the region, say the fire service.

If you have a chip pan fire: Never add water Turn off power source Close kitchen door Call fire service Alert others in the house Leave the building Never go back inside

And three of those were as a result of leaving cooking unattended.

Posters and flyers about the promotion have been given out to supermarkets and taxi offices.

Bar staff are also being asked to wear T-shirts encouraging pub and club goers to have a takeaway rather than start cooking at home.

By showing the effects of a chip pan fire in Wrexham and Connah's Quay on Tuesday, the fire service hope the message will get through to the public.

DC Lennard said water should never be added to a chip pan fire - and the effects of doing so have been shown at the two launches.

"Turn the power off and get out and contact the fire service," said DC Lennard.

The officer added: "This is not a social issue, it covers everybody from young people to old.

"A young person can come home, put a chip pan on unbeknown to the family and they can all be in danger.

The DC said people still like to use chip pans - despite the fact deep fat fryers have a thermostat and are safer.

Mr Lennard said it can taken between three and five minutes for a chip pan fire to start, if a full flame is on.