FESTIVE cooks have been warned to stay alert after a report revealed that most fires in the home over the Christmas period started when people forgot they had something cooking or got drowsy and food or cooking oil burst into flames.

In December 1999 there were 69 such fires, resulting in 22 casualties.

Last December a Blackburn man was killed after falling asleep while cooking chips at a house in Ewood, Blackburn.

A smoke alarm had no battery fitted.

In January 2000 there were 99 cooking related fires injuring 22 people.

Fire chiefs are reinforcing the message "when you're cooking, keep on looking" and are reminding people to fit a smoke detector and check that the batteries are working. Lancashire's chief fire officer Peter Holland said: "Christmas is here again and sadly we always seem to have fire tragedies at this time of year.

Last year's statistics on fires starting in the kitchen when food or cooking oil was left to overheat make dreadful reading and I implore people not to fall prey to the same tragic consequence of forgetfulness or drowsiness when cooking.

"Remember too that at Christmas our homes have more people in them, there is a lot of cooking going on and of course eating and drinking, and this makes the prospect of a fire the last thing on our minds."